Obituary of Jocelyn Lawrence

Jocelyn ‘Joy’ Lawrence was born in Trenton, NJ on January 11, 1957, to the late Nathaniel and Mattie Holland. After Eddie and Nathaniel witnessed her determination to live in her 12-year long testimony of passion and courage, on Feb. 16, 2021 Joy was graciously accepted into God’s loving arms. She was educated in the Burlington City School District, and later attended Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. Joy was a lifelong member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Burlington, NJ where she accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized. In her latter years, she attended Alpha Baptist Church in Willingboro, NJ from 2019 until the COVID pandemic and faithfully attended online services until the end of her life. Joy was a woman with many names. As ‘Joy’, ‘Ms. L’, ‘Auntie’, ‘Momma Joy’, Mom, and finally ‘Boopie Doll’. Joy was employed by Yates Industries in Bordentown, NJ, where she met and married her husband Eddie Lawrence, her spouse for life on September 12, 1981 for 39 years. Then she worked for Foster Higgins and Burlington Coat Factory where she retired, and where she served as Administrative Assistant. Joy loved to host parties, had the best cookouts and was often an event planner. She enjoyed traveling, especially to Virginia, which she called home. Joy was known to welcome all her son Nathaniel’s friends as if they were her own. Even though Nathaniel was their only child he had many friends that he called his brothers and sisters. Joy never judged or turned anyone away—she was always there with a listening ear. Joy’s fondest memories were witnessing her son’s wedding with family and friends in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She spent her final years loving her husband, son, and daughter-in-law, and waiting for the birth of her grandson. Joy leaves to honor and treasure her memories, her husband Eddie Lawrence, son and daughter-in-law Nathaniel Lawrence and Mei-Ling Torres Millet, Goddaughters Adanus Moss of Norfolk VA, Rashauna Johnson of Edgewater Park NJ, her beloved cousin Helena Holland of Tampa FL, whom she loved as a daughter. She also leaves her sisters-in-law Evelynn Wiggins of Richmond VA, Mattie Turner and Nicole Williams of Suffolk VA, brothers-in-law Howard Williams of Richmond VA, Boyce Antonio Williams of Petersburg VA, and host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Lovingly submitted, The Family