Florette Isadora Lawrence

Florette Isadora Lawrence, née Saunders, was born in Port Maria in Saint Mary’s Parish, Jamaica, West Indies on 1st December 1919. She was the sixth child of William and Isadora Saunders. Upon completing her education at Excelsior High School, Florette worked at the post office in Goshen, Montego Bay. She later married Henry Newton Lawrence, Sr. of Clarendon, Jamaica, West Indies in 1945. From this union they had three children - Marcia, Jeannette and Henry, Jr.

Flo, as she was affectionately called, migrated to Brooklyn, New York in 1952.

There she attended nursing school in Harlem. After graduating, Flo worked as a

private duty nurse then as a pediatric nurse at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York. She also worked part-time at Holly Patterson Nursing Home in Uniondale, New York. She worked both jobs simultaneously for over 25 years.

During her years in New York she lived with her family in Brooklyn, Queens and Nassau County. While living in New York, Flo volunteered for several charitable fund drives. In 1981, after retirement, Flo and Henry moved to Orlando, Florida where she continued to work part-time at Guardian Care Nursing Home. In Orlando she also continued her charitable activities by working with a homeless program called “Fresh Start”; a short-term program designed to help in rebuilding the lives of homeless men. She was also a driver/deliverer for Meals on Wheels.

For many years Flo was an active member of The Jamaican American Association of Central Florida. This association gave many higher education scholarships to young adults and sponsored numerous charitable events. In addition to these charitable acts, Flo and her good friend, Mrs. Evelyn Marks, unselfishly visited the sick in several hospitals.

Flo was a very faithful and active member of Quest Church (formally St. Pauls Presbyterian) for over 20 years. She was a monthly volunteer at the Christian Service Center of West Orange, also serving on the Mission Team. In addition, she was very active in the Naomi Circle, a bible study fellowship and outreach group. Until her health failed, she was a proud member of the weekly bulletin assembly and folding team. Rain or shine she never missed a day!

Florette leaves to cherish her memories: her three children, Marcia, Jeannette and Henry, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Sharon Brown-Lawrence; former daughter-in-law, Cherie Jefferson-Lawrence; grandsons Shakir I. Lawrence-Brown and Tarik O. Lawrence; granddaughter, Sydney Miller, great grandchildren

Kendall J. Brown and Shakina West. Flo will be lovingly missed by numerous

relatives including nieces, nephews and friends.

Florette is predeceased by her husband, Henry, Sr. and brothers and sisters, Leonie, Ola, Maisie, Rhona, Lloyd and Ewart; sisters-in-law, Olga, Carmen, Amy and Louise.

The family is indebted to Mrs. Cynthia Bryant for being her caregiver, companion and friend during the last 10+ years of her life.

Before closing, Flo wanted everyone to know, that as a child, she loved horseback

riding---bareback.

MUMMIE YOU WERE AN EXCEPTIONAL AND AN UNSELFISH PERSON.

WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!

THANK YOU MUMMIE!