Born February 14, 1945 in Brooklyn, New York to Beryl and Dudley MacThomas both of Panama. Sixth of eight siblings, she was predeceased by her parents and brothers Ewart, Marshall, Harvey Everhardt, and sisters, Desti Jackson, Kathleen Duncan and Ianthe Thomas. She is survived by sisters Cheryl Chapman (Kenneth) and Lally Salz (Jon).
Valerie and Clozell have four adult children: Scott, Lillian, Larry and Cheryl Erica Lawrence. Valerie is survived by their children: Lillian's, Arnold Doug, Everett , Jillian and Sarah Walker of Las Vegas, Nevada. Larry's Valerie Alexis and Tyler Aaron Lawrence of Denton, Texas and Cheryl Erica's Aiden Clozell Lawrence of Las Vegas, Nevada. Survived also by Lillian's nine grand-children.
In addition to the siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends dating back to early childhood there are friends of a caliber that requires a category of their own: friends of love, Cynthia Hammond, known as Granny Cyn and Gwen Everhardt.
Valerie attended schools in Hyde Park, New York where she graduated from F.D. Roosevelt High School in 1962. In 1963 Valerie began a nearly 40 year career at IBM retiring as a Senior Project Manager. During her long and successful work years she met and married Clozell (Larry) Enrique Lawrence of Alabama, who grew up in Poughkeepsie, and was also a career IBM employee.
Valerie made continual, sustained progress at IBM where her abilities, personality and competence led to increasing responsibilities in locations around the country: New York,Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas, returning to New York in 1995 when her best friend and truly beloved spouse, Clozell E Lawrence died.
Valerie was a voracious reader, a woman who remembered and told jokes and stories beautifully, who spoke her mind clearly and forcefully, a peace keeper and a world traveler. A dedicated shopper and hostess, collecting family and friends in her beautifully appointed homes, and an eclectic lover of music, especially Luther Vandross, and Patti LaBelle ,and Motown, she maintained a deep love of the music of her youth.
Valerie was committed to community service and upon "retirement" developed and sustained a profile in Las Vegas schools; under the name "Zazzie" she mentored generations of students and teachers, she arranged incentives for academic progress and commitment, created spelling bees, funded educational tools, i-pads and supplies for many classes where she was the grandmother called "Zazzie." Valerie raised money and distributed supplies to people living on the street, for women affected by domestic abuse and in as many ways as heart and her health allowed ,maintained a presence in the life of students as they grew up, their teachers as well as the children of their teachers.
We will miss Valerie the story- teller who made us laugh so hard the tears ran down our legs, We are still smiling and the tears are still coming, down our cheeks now.
Miss Me But Let Me Go
When I come to the end of the road and the sun has set for me I want no rites in a gloom-filled room. Why cry for a soul that's set free. Miss me a little, but not too long and not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared. Miss me, but let me go. For this is a journey that we all must take and each must go alone. It's all a part of the Master's plan, a step on the road to home. When you are lonely and sick of heart, go to the friends we knew and laugh at the things that we used to do. Miss me, but let me go.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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