Janet Pearl Lawrence

Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, Janet Pearl (Newman) Lawrence, 93, of Marietta, Georga, went home to be with her lord and savior April 15, 2023. A long-time resident of Dover, Florida she was a member of the Dover Advent Christian Church for many years, as well as their organist playing for them into her 80’s. She was employed as a Senior Clerk by the State of Florida, Department of Corrections in Plant City for 18 years before retiring in 1995. A highly valued employee, she earned the nickname “The Terminator” for her skill at getting things accomplished quickly. She was born in West Virginia and graduated from Lewisburg High School and then from WVU with a degree in Music Education and minor in Shakesperean Literature. She came from a long line of educated women in an era when that was not commonplace.

A very devoted Christian and mother she loved her family, music, reading, writing, gardening, and her Pomeranian dogs. She was a published author of a book of poetry and had several articles of stories from her childhood published in the Tampa Tribune. She will be remembered for her sense of humor and keen wit that she maintained even as her health and eyesight were failing. Her life experience was a major component to the stories she wrote and the memories she shared with any willing listener. Janet is described by those who knew her as intelligent, gracious, and kind. She had a lifelong love of gardening, inspired no doubt by her parent’s victory gardens of WW2 and her father’s occupation as a soil scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Her children grew up enjoying the fresh vegetables she grew and homemade fruit pies she baked. Janet was a “daughter of Appalachia” where she descended from pioneers and patriots, many of whom fought in the Revolutionary War and settled the frontier on the eastern side of the Ohio river in the current state of West Virginia.

She was preceded in death by husband, John H. Lawrence of Dover, her parents Leonard S. Newman, and Helen C. (Hunter) Newman, brother James Newman, sisters, Joan Gwinn, and Jean Osborne, and her beloved “Aunt Pearl” Pearl G. Newman, Leonard’s second wife after the untimely death of Janet’s mother when Janet was only 16 years old. She is the last of the “four J’s,” Jim, Joan, Janet, and Jean. Also, preceding her in death was her son-in-law, Frank Olivero, Sr. and granddaughter, Juanita Olivero.

She is survived by sister, Sandra K. (Newman) Peck (John), brother, Dr. Samuel S. Newman (Christine), six children Carolyn Olivero-Olson (Eric), David H. White, Jane E. White, Gloria J. Kemph (Jeff) , Stephen C. White, Maria K. Bowles (Jeff), thirteen grandchildren, Frank Jr, Veronica, Reuben, Daniel, Stephen, Melinda, Kevin, Joseph, Cynthia, Styles, Natalie, Rebecca, and Krysta, fifteen great-grandchildren; Brittany, Seth, Cody, Zach, Nathalie, Aiden, Ashlyn, Elyssabeth, Kyana, Joey, Isabella, Angelina, Ezra, Emmett, and Isabella, and one great-great granddaughter, Isla. She was immensely proud of her family and loved being a grandmother. She will be greatly missed by all.

A visitation for Janet will be held Monday, April 24, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Dover Advent Christian Church, 14202 Downing St, Dover, FL 33527. A funeral service will occur Monday, April 24, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 14202 Downing St, Dover, FL 33527. A graveside service will occur Monday, April 24, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Hillsboro Memorial Gardens, 2323 West Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511. A reception will occur Monday, April 24, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, 14202 Downing St, Dover, FL 33527.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HillsboroMemorial.com for the Lawrence family.