Wanda Lenice Smith Lawson, of Hopkins, South Carolina, was born in Richland County on January 1, 1956. She was the daughter of Bernice Edwards Smith and the late Leroy Smith. On Thursday, October 20, 2016, surrounded by her devoted husband and loving children, Mrs. Lawson began to rest in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.

Wanda was reared in Eastover, South Carolina, and attended the public schools of Richland County — Webber School and Lower Richland High School, where she was a majorette, played softball, and also drove a school bus. Wanda was a proud graduate of Lower Richland High School’s Class of 1974. She furthered her education at Columbia Commercial College, obtaining her degree in marketing.

At an early age, she was baptized and became a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Eastover, South Carolina where she served in many capacities until her health began to fail.

Although Mrs. Lawson majored in marketing, she had a gift for cooking, arts and crafts and being involved with several extracurricular activities during the adolescent years of her children. She was active with Lower Richland High School’s Band Booster and Athletic Booster Clubs, Lower Richland Debutante, East Columbia Dixie Youth Baseball and several other activities. She enjoyed catering, decorating and directing weddings for many people over the years. Wanda wore many hats throughout her life outside of being a wife, mother, sister and a friend.

Mrs. Lawson worked for many years at The State newspaper in advertising and with Richland County School District One as an Instructional Assistant. While with the school district, she worked at C.R. Neal, A.C. Moore Elementary School and at Lower Richland High School until her retirement.

Mrs. Lawson was predeceased by her father; sister, Joyce Faye McCloud; mother-in-law, Rhudine Johnson; and sisters-in-law, Marian Lawson and Helen L. Merritt.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories her loving and devoted husband, Charles N. Lawson; daughter, Charlise N. Lawson; son, Cedrick Lawson; mother, Bernice E. Smith; stepsons: Charles Lawson, Craig (Krystal) Lawson, Minister Jerrold Lawson and Erik Lawson; a host of grandchildren; brothers-in-law, Morris McCloud, Sr., Jasper (Jay), Li and Ralph Lawson,  Louis Johnson and John (Pamela) Johnson; sisters-in-law: Thelma (Wilfred) Salters, Ethel and Audrey Johnson and Freda (Ed) Day; godson, Ryan James Swann; goddaughter, Quinn Scott; god-grandson, Jayden Brown; and a host of nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and friends.