Mrs. Virginia Eley Lawrence left this terrestrial life on July 23, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. in Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville, N.C.
Mrs. Lawrence was a former elementary and high school librarian at the old Riverview Elementary School and the old and new Murfreesboro High School for over 30 years, designing libraries in each. She was the first African-American to integrate the Hertford County Schools.
She leaves to mourn her son, Dr. Melvin C. Lawrence of the home; her daughter, Attorney Anita E. Hilson and husband, Robert, of Owings Mills, Md.; and two granddaughters, Kimberly and Rachel. She also had one remaining aunt, Gwendolyn Ried of Murfreesboro; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Sarah A. Garrett of Murfreesboro and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Paul and Marie Eley, and husband, George C. Lawrence.
A memorial service is planned on Monday, July 27, 2009 at 1st Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, at 11 a.m.
Mrs. Lawrence received her B.S. degree Magna Cum Laude in library science from N.C. Central University, her M.A. in Information Sciences from Rutgers University; having done advance graduate work from Queens College, New York University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Mrs. Lawrence was a charter member of the N.C. Librarians Association, past officer of the Hertford County Teacher’s Association, on the board of directors for the N.C. Information Society for Teachers, Hertford County Library and the Golden Eagle Society from N.C. Central University.
She was a number for many years of Parker’s Grove Baptist Church, Mapleton, N.C. Mrs. Lawrence was cited by Negro Digest for her work with charities which she loved—the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Boys Clubs of America and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
She received numerous awards on the local, state, and national level for her work in information sciences and with children.
Special thanks for her care to Mrs. Sarah A. Garrett, Ms. Jill Gadsden and to the staff of R-C Hospital.