Evelyn Lawrence

Obituary For Evelyn Lawrence

Evelyn Anderson Lawrence passed away calmly on August 27, 2021 at UNC Hospice, Pittsboro, NC. She was 87 years old. Evelyn was born in 1934 at home in Beach Haven, NJ to immigrant Swedish parents Allan and Alma Anderson. She graduated from Barnegat High School and went on to attend the University of Maryland where she met her former husband.

As a newlywed, she lived in Salisbury, MD and gave birth to 4 children, Charles William Lawrence, Jr., Teresa Linnea Smith (nee Lawrence), Christopher Mark Lawrence, and Christian Anderson Lawrence. She also has a son, Eric Monroe Leach. The family moved to Pitman, Richmond (IN), Rahway, and South Orange, NJ before settling in Chapel Hill (NC). She became a single mother of 3 children who worked the night shift as a press operator for Columbia Records and attended Gloucester College in Sewell, NJ during the day to obtain a degree in nursing. She held Staff, Charge, and Head nursing positions where she cared for patients at hospitals including Underwood, Richmond State, Veterans Administration, Fair Oaks, E. Orange, Beth Israel, and UNC Memorial.

She was drawn to serving the walking wounded, the voiceless, the helpless and desperate and found her niche in psychiatric nursing. That field was never a popular one for young idealistic nurses who needed to see quick fixes. It was slow, plodding work with few immediate rewards. Evelyn took the time to get to know her patients as individuals providing them with comfort, hope and understanding. She was truly one who Listened which is so therapeutic in itself.

During her retirement years, Evelyn loved to spend her time indulging in many creative projects and became a fabulous crafter. She learned to make porcelain dolls with beautifully composed faces and hand made clothing representative of their time period. She knitted scarves, hats and baby outfits. Evelyn loved animals and nature. She loved watching songbirds and hummingbirds (her favorite) from her kitchen table.

Anyone that knew Evelyn knew how much she loved her family. She was predeceased by her son Christopher, daughter Tracy, son Chuck, brother Gilbert Anderson (Marie) and her longtime partner of 40+ years Monroe Leach.

Evelyn leaves to cherish her loving memory, her son Christian (Ruth), her four grandchildren she was blessed with Samantha, Jared, Austin, and David, her brother Leonard (Linda) Anderson, nieces Terry Taylor (nee Anderson) and Lori Anderson, and nephews Carter, Andrew, and Keith Anderson. The family also recognizes two caring and loving friends Gail Geraud and Judy Miloud. In lieu of donation or flowers, please plant a native tree as a memorial.