Gertrude Lawrence, better known to her family as Maw, passed away on Saturday, August 31, 2024 in Forest Haven Nursing Home.  She was 106 years old.  Maw was born on October 24, 1917 in Joyce, Louisiana to George Washington Henderson and Annie Jane (Eubanks) Henderson. Maw described her childhood home as a wooden house with wooden doors and windows with no panes; but they did have wooden shutters to keep the elements out.

Maw was the oldest of 9 children. She had 4 brothers: Lamar, Delbert, Jimmy, and Billy; and 4 sisters: Ruby, Helen, Marie, and Bertie. There was 22 years between Maw and her youngest sibling. At a very young age, as the oldest child, Maw was responsible for helping to take care of her younger siblings while her mother helped her father with the more laborious chores such as chopping wood, gardening, etc.  Maw's responsibilities included cooking for the family, bathing her brothers and sisters, getting them ready for school, and if they were sick, dosing them with castor oil.  She would even take them to the doctor when necessary.  She recalled, at the age of 12, having to wrap up her newborn brother, Jimmy and walk to town to take him to the doctor.

On June 19, 1937, Maw married Oscar Lawrence (Paw), and they were married for 50 years.  Maw spoke often about the time Paw traded a pair of shoes for a wood-burning cook stove.  She recalled how, "You could buy a lot with a nickel, but a nickel was hard to come by."

Together, Maw and Paw had 3 children; Norma Sue, Patricia Ann and Oscar Eugene (Gene).  Their oldest child was born in the year 1938 and for the next eighty-six years, Maw's descendants truly multiplied.  She was 106 years old when her most recent great-great-great-grandchild was born.

Maw leaves behind a legacy of 6 generations which include: 1 daughter, Patricia Wiltcher; 9 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 50 great-great-grandchildren; 19 great-great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Maw had several occupations over the years which include: cook at Jonesboro Elementary School; clerk at various stores in Jonesboro and Chatham, including the old Morgan and Lindsey's on Main Street in Jonesboro and Malone's Grocery in Chatham. She even worked at the Hodge Paper Mill during the World War II draft.

Maw enjoyed fishing, BINGO, and traveling with her family. She was always independent and active, and proof of that is that she drove her own automobile until the age of 97.  Maw lived at home until she was 99 years old.  That's when, while frying some "taters," she fell and broke her hip.  She then became a resident of Forest Haven Nursing Home in Jonesboro.  There, she continued to be active in various activities such as BINGO, dominoes, crafts, painting, simple cooking and going on outings.

Maw leaves behind her personal tips for a long life: (1) take a daily teaspoon of honey, (2) use Oil of Olay face firming cream, and (3) there's no need to worry about what you can't do anything about.

Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 from 10:00AM until 12:00 PM in the chapel of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.  The funeral service will begin at 12 Noon in the chapel with Julie Tippen officiating.  Burial will be in the Springhill Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Davey Morris, Joshua Lawrence, Josh Lawrence, Randall Stevenson, Monty Kennedy, Chris Tippen and Lane Tippen.