Annora Elizabeth Ross- Lawson

Mrs. Annora Ross King‑Lawson, affectionately known as Mother Lawson, Aunt Sue, and Susie, was born on March 21, 1923, in Louisville, Kentucky, while her mother was visiting family. She was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, as the second oldest of eight children born to George and Carrie Ross. From an early age, she carried a spirit of responsibility, grace, and unwavering faith that shaped the entire course of her life.

She graduated from Crispus Attucks High School before attending medical training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, where she became a nurse’s assistant serving wounded soldiers during World War II—an extraordinary achievement at a time when Black women were denied access to licensed medical professions.

In 1963, she moved to Los Angeles, California, joining several siblings who had already relocated. She worked faithfully for Dr. A.C. Mitchell at Florence Western Medical, one of the first Black‑owned medical clinics in South Los Angeles, where she remained until her retirement. Alongside her sister Mary Ross Moore, she purchased and fully paid off their home during a period when women were legally barred from obtaining credit, owning property independently, or signing major financial agreements without a male guarantor. Together, they overcame structural barriers through discipline, faith, and perseverance.

She was the proud mother of Mrs. Jacquelyn King‑Gatson and Mr. William Edward King II (known to many as Beaver). She was the grandmother of Stephanie King, Andrea King, and Chasity Gatson; and great‑grandmother of Avery Warren, Adonis Warren, Amari Berry, and Chase Moore. Yet her maternal reach extended far beyond biological ties. She served as a surrogate mother, grandmother, aunt, counselor, and confidant to countless relatives, friends, and church members.

She earned her beloved nicknames, Aunt Sue and Susie—because she remembered every birthday, every milestone, and every joy and burden carried by the people she loved. She cherished her nieces and nephews deeply, forming special connections with each of them. She shared a birthday with her nephew Elder Kevin Ross, son of her youngest brother, Jacob D. Ross. The two, known as the “Birthday Buddies,” celebrated together by phone every year—missing only one birthday in 68 years. She also shared a playful connection with her nephew Paul Ross Jr. (“Puckie”) and niece Mary Beth Ross‑Fields (“the Twin,” though she was not actually a twin).

After moving to California, she joined Bethany Apostolic Church under Bishop Robert McMurray and Assistant Pastor Arlington Alexander, serving faithfully in the Women’s Auxiliary, Nurses Guild, Kitchen Ministry, and many other capacities. She later attended High Desert Apostolic Church in Lancaster before becoming a founding member of Word of Life Outreach Ministries in 1989 under the leadership of her nephew, Bishop Jeryl D.D. Ross. Her ministry extended across generations as she supported numerous young ministers, including her nephew Elder Kevin D. Ross and her current pastor, Elder David Cowan, Sr. (son of her best friend, Mrs. Elizabeth “Liz” Cowan), and his wife Pastor Daphene Cowan. She was a member of Love and Grace Christian Fellowship (“Love and Grace”) for 20 years. Mother Lawson was one of the original members of Love and Grace, Mother’s Board, under the leadership of the dearly departed Evangelist Frances Edwards. In this role, she was an active participant and mentor through the women’s ministry and loved supporting the youth ministry; she loved her church.

After retiring from the medical field at age 67, she traveled the United States with her beloved husband, James E. Lawson, in their recreational vehicle. They visited Indigenous reservations, national landmarks, historical sites, and cultural centers across the original thirteen colonies. They fished, camped, prayed, and explored until James Lawson’s passing in 2002. After his death, she moved in with her daughter, Jacquelyn King‑Gatson, with whom she shared a season of deep companionship, prayer, and mutual care.

Aunt Sue was an expert seamstress who worked with industrial‑strength Singer sewing machines. She designed and created clothing, jackets, tailored outfits, and full garment patterns from scratch. She made her own wardrobe for decades and never once wore pants to church in her entire lifetime. She cherished the memories of her early sewing circle with Sister Mildred Scott Resnover and Sister Mildred Brooks Thomas, meeting regularly to talk and craft garments for their growing families.

Her iconic short pixie hairstyle was admired from California to Mississippi. She loved classical music—especially Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald—visited every Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., and enjoyed skating, fishing, cultural conferences, museums, and traveling.

Her sweet‑potato pies were legendary. Her berry pies, jams, and preserves were unforgettable. Her liver and onions were a cherished family favorite. These culinary gifts expressed her belief that caring for others was a ministry.

Some of the greatest honors of her life occurred in 2010 and 2011, when—through the coordination of her granddaughter, Chasity L. Gatson—she met President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. She later returned for a private tour of the First Family’s residence and received a Special Presidential Coin. These experiences represented not only national recognition but the fulfillment of prayers and milestones she once believed she would never live to witness. A devoted American, she exercised her civic duty faithfully from the 1960s through her final election. She voted proudly for President Barack Obama in both elections and lived to witness the election of President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala D. Harris—the first Black woman to hold the office.

She cherished her sisterhood circle deeply: Sister Elizabeth “Liz” Cowan, Pastor Copeland, Pinky Lawson, Sister Margaret Alexander, Sister Ruth Alexander Ross, Sister Mary Madkin, Mrs. Wanda Huff, Ms. Gwendolyn Goodwin, and her daughter‑in‑law Ms. Yvonne Elder. These women were her companions in prayer, laughter, accountability, and spiritual strength.

She lived by the Word of God, reading exclusively from the King James Version of the Bible—no other translation would do. Her life was anchored in Hebrews 12:1–2, Hebrews 11:1, and Hebrews 11:6—scriptures she recited and lived by daily. She embodied prayer, holiness, service, and unwavering devotion to God and family. After 102 years of grace, strength, and purpose, she transitioned peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations. Her life was a sermon. Her love was a ministry. And her memory will forever be a blessing.