Ilene Margaret Lawrence

Ilene Margaret Lawrence, age 83, of Roanoke gained her Heavenly Wings on September 1, 2026. The youngest of seven children, she was born on December 3, 1942, to Noah Bluford Lawrence and Vida Conner Lawrence of Check Virginia.

As an adult, Ilene first worked as a seamstress, and then as a food service worker in the original Woolworth store in downtown Roanoke. She retired from the cafeteria of Roanoke’s First Baptist Church Daycare Center.

A devout Christian, Ilene was a member of First Baptist Church of Roanoke for over 50 years. She was a fan of several genres of music including Bluegrass, had a soft spot for deer and never saw a cat she didn’t love.

In addition to her parents, Ilene was preceded in death by brothers, Allen Lawrence and Raymond Lawrence; sisters, Dorothy Radford, Garnett Tyree Gerland, Mary Saunders and Reba Jones; nephew, Frankie Lawrence; and nieces, Darlene Radford and Dreama Wilkes.

She is survived by nieces, Donna Vest, Vicki Brown, Nancy Jones and Debbie Lawrence; and way too many great-nephews and great-nieces to possibly list.

Ilene was dearly loved and will be missed terribly by her special friends and church family including Cindy Wilson, Shirley Weaver, Gail Shirley, Jerri and Andy Lewis, Marcia Richardson, Ruth Late, Jim and Fran Bono, and Wayne Gadman.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 10:00a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Lotz Funeral Home Roanoke, 1001 Franklin Road SW Roanoke, VA 24016. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Wayne Gadman officiating. Private burial is planned at Wilson Cemetery in Check, Virginia.