Roberta “Roby” Lawrence
September 7,  1949 - June 2, 2022

Roberta "Roby" Lawrence was a loving mother, aunt, grandmother, and cat-lady. She passed away on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at the age of 72. After surviving her first bout with cancer in 2017, she struggled with recent breathing complications due to its recurrence. She was surrounded by her children and at peace when she passed.

Roby grew up in New Orleans, and part of her heart never left. She was raised by her father, her mother (who passed away when Roby was 13) and then by her grandmother, and alongside her sister, Bonnie and brother-in-law, Pete. She adored playing with her nephews, Robert and David, and watching them grow into adulthood. She cherished her relationships with them throughout her life.

She had various jobs, but found her passion in sales at the Pocketbook, where she worked for nearly 30 years. She loved her Pocketbook family dearly.

She was a dedicated friend who loved talking on the phone and coffee dates. Not one to hold her tongue, but always there to listen just the same. She valued her friendships and believed in showing--as much as telling--people what they meant to her. She trusted her friends to accept her exactly as she was, and never took for granted those who did. Even when illness made it harder to connect, she spoke often of much it meant to her when people reached out to check on her.

Roby always said being a mother was the best job ever, and that she was “the luckiest mother since Mary.” She spent countless hours at the baseball field and band concerts, dance recitals and school plays. As her children grew into adults, she felt blessed to have them close by and to be able share in their growth as people and as parents themselves.
Her grandchildren remember their Grandmama for her joy, her generous and thoughtful gifts, and sleepovers with no rules. And when it came to her grandchildren, there was no such thing as too many sweets.

Time spent with her family was more precious to her than all else. She insisted that pictures be taken at all family gatherings, and she would be very diligent in following up to be sure she got copies of the pictures, as they would commonly end up printed and either taped to her computer monitor wherever she could find room or given out as gifts.
Roby is survived by her children: Stephanie (and John) Anderson, Patrick Dillon (and Nicole Gates), and Michael (and Cristalynn) Dillon; her step-daughter, Sandra (and Jason) Walker, her nine grandchildren, and her beloved cat, Tia.

She always had room in her heart for more. We love and miss her dearly.