MORATTICO—Myrtis Naomi Oliver Lawyer, 92, died peacefully at home in Morattico on Monday, November 21.
She was predeceased by her parents, Jesse Oliver and Beatrice Carter Oliver Doggett; her brother, Gordon Oliver; and her loving husband of 57 years, Harold Evan Lawyer.
Naomi is survived by her three children, Victor Lawyer, Bruce Lawyer and his wife, Margaret, and Valerie Lawyer Hopkins and her husband, Mark. Also surviving are her four grandchildren, Jessica Lawyer Grimwood and her husband, Donovan of Nashville, Gordon Lawyer, Vincent Lawyer and his wife, Julie, and their children, Sarah, Nathan and David of Columbus, Ga., and Wade Lawyer of Lynchburg.
Naomi, as her friends called her, was born on May 5, 1924, at her Mother’s home in Lancaster County. She graduated from Lively High School, attended Richmond Polytechnic Institute. She married her husband, Harold, on December 15, 1945, after a whirlwind courtship.
Anyone who knew her could testify that she was unfailingly kind and generous. One of the many ways she expressed these traits was to give those of her older friends and relatives, who were no longer able to drive, free rides wherever they wanted to go. She was a life-long member of Corrottoman Baptist Church and served as the church’s first woman deacon.
Appropriately, the Gospel reading for the day of Naomi’s death speaks about the poor widow who put her mite into the offering box. “These others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” Naomi joyfully made her whole life an offering to God, her church, her family and her friends.
Visitation was held November 26 at Currie Funeral Home and a funeral on Sunday, November 27, at Corrottoman Baptist Church, Ottoman. Burial followed at Corrottoman Church Cemetery.
