Thelma Ree Lawrence was born on November 29, 1945 in Buffalo, Texas, to the parentage of Lonnie B. Dorsey, Sr. and Zelma Dorsey. She was the fifth of fifteen children comprised of four boys and eleven girls.

Thelma accepted Jesus Christ at an early age as a member of Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Buffalo. After moving to Dallas, she joined Greater New Zion Baptist Church. Thelma met and married Larry Lawrence and later changed her membership to New Addition Baptist Church where she sang in the choir.

Thelma attended G.B. Bennett High School in Buffalo, Texas and continued her education at El Centro, Bishop and Cedar Valley Colleges, majoring in Management.

She had an illustrious and lengthy career at Texas Instruments (TI) in Richardson, Texas, retiring after 35 years of dedicated service.  Not yet ready to settle into "retired life", she worked for Stonebridge Technologies for another six years.

Thelma's hobbies were spending time with family, traveling, fishing, reading and sports. She was a loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. Family was everything to her, and her love for her family was so strong that she graciously donated one of her kidneys to her sister, Ocie Hickman.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, Lonnie B. Dorsey, Sr. and Zelma Dorsey; husband, Larry Lawrence; sister, Odessa Page; brother, Charles Dorsey; and sister, Ocie Hickman. She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, Schryka Taylor (Wendell "Dewayne" Taylor); sons, Troy (Lucy), Adam (Tameka) and Kevin Lawrence, Sr.; grandchildren, Katelyn, Javien, Lindsay, Lakeitha, Jamie, Kevin, Jr., LaTroya, Jerome, Aramis, Jessica, Rhyan and Christian; siblings, Mae Nelson, Katy Dorsey, Lonnie B. Dorsey, Jr. (Dorothy), Adolph Dorsey (Hazel), Virginia Roberts, Lillie Jones (Robert, Sr.), Floyd Dorsey (Esther), Luvenia Williams (T Dell), Viola Spencer (Dwight), Diane Tribble (Alford) and Jacqueline Carson (Donald); sister-in-law, Renee Dorsey; and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends

Special Words from Grandchildren

Nana was an excellent grandmother that did everything she could for me. I will cherish those memories forever. Thank you for being the best Nana ever! Love, Javien

I'll miss her always complimenting me even on my worse days. She always knew how to brighten someone's day, and I'll never forget her kindness and gratitude. Love forever, Katelyn