Obituary of Gweneth Greta Lawrence

Gweneth Lawrence, age 88, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2020 due to complications from heart surgery. She was born on March 8, 1932 in Rawlins Village, Gingerland, Nevis, the only child of James and Cecelia Freeman. She married the love of her life, Horace Lawrence, in 1967, who preceded her in death in 1994. Gweneth lived most of her adult life in Charlestown, Nevis with her husband Horace. She came from a humble background and faced many hardships but had the determination to achieve success in life. Her parents taught her self-reliance, one of the tenets that inspired her to become an entrepreneur. She started her own business as a seamstress and later worked with her husband to develop a very popular grocery and liquor store in Charlestown, Nevis. Gweneth was self-employed most of her life and was proud that she was able to raise her children successfully while overcoming many barriers as an independent, strong woman. She was a kind and gracious person who made friends easily and was loved by her neighbours and customers. One of her favourite bible verse was Mathew 25: 35, “for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in”. During her life she fed many people and credited groceries to persons who were financially distressed. Some customers did not repay but she was always concerned about their children’s welfare. She treasured her seven children and made huge sacrifices to ensure that they were adequately prepared for the rigours of life. They respected and cared for her until her death. She was an active member of the Charlestown Methodist Church and sang in the choir, attended Sunday classes regularly and took part in various activities. She attended the St. Johns Anglican Church of Passaic while living in New Jersey. She loved the Lord with all her heart and read the bible, and prayed daily always remembering to ask God’s intervention for her children and the less unfortunate. The last conversation she had with her granddaughter, Onya, she indicated that she had lived a full life and had no fear of meeting her saviour. The last days of her life on this earth can be remembered through Psalm 73: 26 – ‘my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever’. She is survived by seven children namely Sheila Douglas, Kenneth Parris, Wendell Lawrence, Gemina Galloway, Laurie Lawrence, Faron Lawrence and Tressy Lawrence; plus 22 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. All of them she loved and touched deeply. Family members please join us in celebrating her life at the Oakland Memorial Home in New Jersey on Tuesday December1, 2020.