Lutricia "Tish" Jean Lawrence

I, “Tish,” also known as, Lutricia Jean Lawrence, bypassed the Pearly Gates and purposefully went and crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 9, 2022, to see all my beloved animals first. I was born August 9, 1957, in Murray, Kentucky, to the late Ronald Ray Lawrence and Barbara Luella (Lyda) Lawrence Wallin. My ability to survive my childhood was a total shocker, so living to be 64 years old was quite an accomplishment. I spent my youth bouncing between North Carolina and Mississippi. I was young when the New Orleans Saints were formed, and immediately I became a life-long fan. “Who Dat” child handing out fried chicken to the Saints’ players in the parking lot as they arrived to play the game? It was me! For decades, I played softball as a catcher for teams in Gaffney, SC, Greenville, TN, and Asheville, NC, until one day in my forties, my knees trapped me and held me hostage in the basement while doing laundry. The beautiful color of my blue eyes was so different, it either captivated people or scared them. My quirky and irreverent sense of humor and outlook on life made people laugh. I became street smart at an early age thanks to my childhood. My superpower was the ability to see through someone’s BS and lies and call them on it. Unfortunately, I could not turn off my superpower and my unfiltered mouth would get me in trouble. Throughout my life, I had many types of jobs, but I enjoyed working with elderly people the most. My favorite humans were kind, generous, loving, and understanding. They were few and far between. I loved animals, sea turtles, music, cigarettes, alcohol, old people, the New Orleans Saints, Duke Basketball, my friends, and family, but not necessarily in that order. I fought cancer to the end, so you can now “Color Me Gone!”

I was preceded in death by my father, and my grandparents, Luther McKinley & Kitty (Hall) Lawrence; and Julius Eckles & Maggie Belva (Gosnell) Lyda Franklin.

Those who survive me include my mother of Marshall, NC. Siblings: Shelia Lawrence Hensley (Arnold) of Fall Branch, TN; Tina Lawrence Hall and Lisa Lawrence McDaniel of Jackson, MS; Nikki Wallin Blankenship of Marshall, NC; Shannon Lawrence Johns of Pelahatchie, MS; Reggie Lawrence (Marte) of Maryville, TN; Noel Lawrence McKee (Jerry) of Webster, WI. Numerous nieces and nephews.

A special love and thanks to my buddy, Beaver Wyatt, for putting up with me for longer than I can remember, but especially for caring for me during my final years, and to Alecia Ralston for being one of my favorite humans. I chose not to have a funeral. I preferred parties over funerals. I want my family and friends to plan their own “Tish Day” and have a party/cookout with those who live nearby and raise a glass to me. If you like, you can donate to Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center (PO Box 2095, Surf City, NC 28445 or seaturtlehospital.org) in my memory.

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