Joan Olivia Elliston Lawrence

Joan Olivia Lawrence was born on June 23, 1936 and peacefully entered into her Father’s arms on August 12, 2021.  Joan was born in Harlem, New York. Her family later moved to the Bronx, New York where she attended elementary school and later graduated from Evander Childs high school.  She began working for the Bell Atlantic telephone company first as a telephone operator and then became a supervisor.  Back in the day, you could dial the operator to hear the weather and or the time. Joan’s voice was often the one who recorded that information!

Joan met the love of her life, Leo and they married September 30th, 1956.  Joan and Leo had two daughters, Leslie and Lisa. They continued to live in the Bronx and was always around family and friends.  Joan also loved to cook and watch the soaps when she wasn’t working.  Joan and Leo moved to Beltsville, MD in August 1999 since both of their daughters and their families already lived there. Since they missed home, Joan and Leo would travel back and forth to New York to visit family and friends as much as possible.  Joan and Leo made new friends here. Neighbors became extended family and they also enjoyed making friends when they attended church.   Joan also loved to travel especially to Carribbean islands like the Bahamas, Barbados and especially Puerto Rico where she and Leo had a timeshare.

Joan was very much a people person. Joan loved to talk and had many “marathon” conversations with family and friends.  She was very straightforward and would pull no punches if you asked her a question! Joan loved music.  She loved to listen to it and clap along to it.  Although she didn’t get up and dance that much, she was the best chair dancer ever! Joan also loved to shop.  She loved shopping for clothes and jewelry, especially gold jewelry.  She loved necklaces and big hoop earrings.   Her hands were often adorned with multiple rings and her legs with multiple ankle bracelets. The gold accentuated her lively personality.

Joan was fiercely devoted to her family. She was a very proud wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend.  She enjoyed being called Joanie and Dearie by friends and family.   She loved being called “Ma” by her daughters and “Mamour” by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her many “adopted” children.

Joan was predeceased by her parents, Winifred and David and her brothers: Bernard, Calvin, Alphonso, Albert (Elliston) and Owen (Watson).  She leaves to celebrate her memory and honor her legacy her loving family including  husband Leo,  daughters Leslie and Lisa, son-in-laws, Pierre and Terry, granddaughters Tiffany, Olivia, Alexia and Kristen, great-grandchildren LeVar Jr., Andre, Leia, Jayden, Josie and Jaison.  She also is survived by a host of “adopted” children and grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.

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