Norma Jean Laurence
DUBLIN - Norma Jean Laurence passed away on Thursday, January 25, 2024 at the age of 93.
Born November 13, 1930 to the late John Norman Williams and Fannye Speakman Williams, Jean grew up in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee with her younger brother Francis Leo Williams, and an extended family of eleven aunts and uncles. At age 17 Jean married the love of her life, George Tolliver Laurence. They celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary in 2022.
Jean and George crisscrossed the United States in nine long-distance moves with their two children, Michael and Amy, as George’s career with National Cash Register advanced.
During her earthly lifetime, Jean was an active leader and member of Bible Study Fellowship International and a member of the Herb Society of America. Jean helped procure and plant the Bible Garden of Inniswood Botanical Gardens in Westerville, Ohio, and was the chairperson for seven years.
Jean was the sole proprietor for fourteen years of “Voice of the Turtle,” her home business selling herbs and dried flower arrangements by appointment. She was a speaker for the 19th Great Lakes Herb Symposium at Capital University in 1997. Jean’s lecture topics included “The Herbs and Plants in the Bible,” “The Pomegranate: a Crimson Globe That Wears a Crown,” and “Herbal Teas: How to Grow and Blend.” She spoke throughout Ohio at church and civic groups, garden clubs and lodges. Jean was featured in the Home and Garden Section of the Columbus Dispatch on Sunday, July 17, 1994.
Jean taught preschool and kindergarten with a Childhood Development Associate degree in her midlife years. In her senior years she was a private chef into her eighties. Jean was a founding member of Dublin Baptist Church; a nursery worker and prayer chain leader of Grace Brethren Church (Grace Polaris Church) in Westerville; and a founding member of Agora Church of Dublin, Ohio. Jean was an avid reader, gardener, needle worker, and above all, a Proverbs 31 woman.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, George Tolliver Laurence; and her son, Michael George Laurence. She is survived by her daughter Amy Rebecca Laurence of Dublin, Ohio.
Arrangements entrusted to Schoedinger Dublin, 5980 Perimeter Drive, where a visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 30 from 11:30am12:30pm, followed by a funeral service at 12:30pm. A private entombment will follow at Kingwood Cemetery. To share a memory, please visit www. schoedinger.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bible Study Fellowship International, using this weblink: https://www.bsfinternational.org/support/ memorials-and-honorarium/