Martha Sophia (Lawrence) Mitchell

Martha S. Lawrence Mitchell was born on August 4, 1940, in Emanuel County Georgia minutes after her twin sister Mary Lawrence, who preceded her in death. Martha was the ninth of 13 children of the late Richard Arthur Lawrence, Sr.  and Leola Palmer Lawrence. She was Co-Captain of the Emanual County High School Lady Rattlers, who won the Georgia High School State Championship of 1958. She was salutatorian of the Emanuel County High School class of 1959. She attended Morris Brown College, obtaining an associate degree. Her studies were halted due to an illness, but she did not let this impede her success. She worked as a bookkeeper for Fifth Avenue Pharmacy(NW) and the Dillard Senior Comprehensive High School in Fort Lauderdale, Forida, then Gibson’s Discount Center in Swainsboro, Georgia. Although she worked in the corporate world, she had a burning desire to be an entrepreneur. She then attended cosmetology school and became a master cosmetologist. She owned Jenae’s Hair Studio in Wadley, GA for many years. She also was a wedding coordinator, seamstress, event planner, upholsterer, and baker. Martha set her sights on politics and was elected to the Jefferson County School Board in Georgia. She relocated to Hancock County, where she was the director of Hancock County Alternative School program.  After retiring as a Georgia educator, she was the head chef and general manager of her family-owned restaurant, Lawrence Village in Summertown, GA.

At an early age Martha joined the Rountree Island Baptist Church and served faithfully as a member and president of the choir. She also served as a Sunday School teacher and sang in the choir with First Baptist Church of Wadley, Georgia. She joined and attended Macedonia Baptist Church in Sparta, GA. 

Martha was an avid fisherman, gardener, and sports enthusiast. She enjoyed playing games, especially Phase Ten. She volunteered with the Wadley High School Booster Club. She served on many community programs focusing on revitalizing the community and youth mentorship.

Martha leaves her precious memories to be cherished by her son Vincent C. Lawhorn (Makeba) and her daughter,  Hope J. Galloway (Todd); three wonderful grandsons: Cornelius Immanuel Lawhorn, Christian Marcellus Lawhorn, Dylan Christopher Galloway; her brothers and sister: Eddie Lawrence, Richard Lawrence, Callie Wiggs, Rosie (Princess) Lawrence, Robert (Tyice) Lawrence, Sr; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her siblings: twins James and John, Grace Ola Johnson, Robbie Cooper, Eula Pearl Williams, Mary Lawrence, John H. Lawrence, II.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, please donate online to the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation at pkdcure.org/give/

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