Mrs. Laura Bateman Lawrence died June 27, 2013, at her residence at Brookridge Baptist Retirement Home.
A graveside service will be held Friday, July 5, at 11 AM, at Baptist Cemetery in Scotland Neck, NC and a memorial service will be held Saturday, July 6, at 11 AM, at College Park Baptist Church with Reverend Ramon Smith and Reverend Maurice Briggs, chaplain at Brookridge, officiating.
The family will receive guests following the service at the church.
Mrs. Lawrence was born in Columbia, NC on October 29, 1918 to the late James Henry and Mattie Swain Bateman. She was educated at Columbia High School, earned her B.A. at Women’s College of the University of North Carolina Greensboro (now UNC-G) and her Masters in Religious Education (MRE) at the former Woman’s Missionary Union Training School in Louisville, KY. Following graduation, she served as Director of the Baptist Students Union at Woman’s College of UNC, Greensboro. At one time Laura served as President of the North Carolina Ministers’ Wives and of the Southern Baptist Convention Minister’s Wives (in 1977) and with her husband as he served as minister of Little Flock Baptist Church, Shepherdsville, K.Y., Sunset Park Baptist Church, Wilmington, N.C., First Baptist Church, Shelby, N.C., and Forest Hills Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C. Always a minister herself, Laura was committed to the service of others throughout her entire life. Her interest in, and love for others, is her legacy. Her continual memory for important persons and events in the lives of others is legendary among her family members and friends. She was a continually curious individual whose view of the world was wide. She was interested in, and explored the meaning of all things. She was a woman of infinite faith, always on a quest for a deeper spiritual relationship with her Lord. Her love for, and influence upon, her grandchildren will be everlasting. Her expressions of love for all of her co-residents at Brookridge will be greatly missed.
In 1943, she married John Elmore Lawrence and they spent 57 wonderful years together until his death in 2000. She is also preceded in death by two sisters, India Bateman Robbins and Frances Bateman Triplett; three brothers, James Henry Bateman Jr., Rodney Swain Bateman and Dr. Joseph Charles Bateman; and nephew, Rodney S. Bateman Jr.
She is survived by her son, Dr. John Elmore Lawrence Jr. and his wife Dale Daniel Lawrence of Asheville; four grandchildren and their spouses, Dr. Brooke Lawrence Hata (Jon) of Hickory, Dr. Kate Lawrence Mitchell (Greg) of Durham, Jane Lawrence Spencer (David) of Nashville, TN, and John Hamilton Lawrence (Kristen) of Chattanooga, TN; seven great grandchildren; two nieces, Dr. Joyce Bateman Giglioni of Starkville, MS and Jean Robbins Hoak of Kansas City, MO; and nephew, Lionel C. Bateman of Columbia, NC.
In lieu of flowers, if desired, memorials may be made to the Benevolent Fund at Brookridge Baptist Retirement Home, 1199 Hayes Forest Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27106 or to the mission program of College Park Baptist Church, 1701 Polo Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106.
Arrangements are being handled by Letchworth Funeral Home in Scotland Neck.