Mazell Arlene (Stokes) Lawton

Mazell Arlene Stokes Lawton, known affectionately as “Sister” was born to the Late Rebecca “Doll” Stokes and William Butler on August 12, 1950 in Colleton County, South Carolina. She transitioned from this earthly life to her Heavenly Reward quietly on Thursday, December 5, 2019 in her home in Smoaks, South Carolina.

  “Sister” was educated in the public schools of Colleton County, she graduated in 1968 from Ruffin High School, Ruffin, South Carolina.  She loved to read and sing, and was passionately about baking and cooking. She was a member of Beulah Baptist and the Gospel Choir.

 She was married to John Vincent (JV) Lawton and to this union one beautiful daughter, Hazel Victoria Lawton was born.  She was a warrior of truth, justice and love.  She was employed at Bamberg and Smoaks Manufactory as a Seamstress for numerous years.  Later years, she ventured out and gained employment in Walterboro, South Carolina at Ole House Restaurant /Café, as a baker and cook until she retired in 2014.

She was preceded in death by her parents;  great-grandparents, the Late Lottie Brown and Heyward Stokes; siblings, Hattie Stokes and Benjamin Stokes Sr.; three sister-in-laws, Mildred Stokes, Lillie Ruth Stokes, and Vernell Lawton; six  brother-in-laws: Franklin Cobbs, Joe Louis Jenkins Sr., Gerald Lawton Sr., Marshall Lawton Sr., Alexander Lawton and Willie Linder Sr. 

Precious memories will be cherished by her husband, John Vincent (JV) Lawton; daughter, Hazel Victoria Lawton (Craig) Turmon of Smoaks, SC.; eight sisters, Lottie Mae Cobbs, Barbara (Rev. Mikle) Mosley, of Walterboro, SC.; Rosella Stokes, Bessie Jenkins, Mazie Stokes, Deborah Stokes-Williams, Ruth Ann Linder all of Smoaks, SC; and Janet Stokes-Wiley of Hampton, SC; two brothers,  Charlie (Dorothy) Stokes of Smoaks, SC; and Rev. Charles (Tonya) Stokes of Enterprise, Alabama.  A Special and Very Dear Friend Mary Johnson of Columbia, SC and a host of nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

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