Wanda Carole Marie Lawson

Wanda Carole Marie Lawson, age 80, of Richlands, Virginia, passed away Sunday, October 2, 2022 in Bristol, Tennessee. She was born in Raven, Virginia on October 19, 1941 and was the daughter of the late Cecil C. Lawson, Sr. and Edna Rachel Altizer Lawson. She was a graduate of Richlands High School Class of 1959, attended Radford College and then transferred and graduated from Medical College of Virginia in 1963. Upon graduating, she headed the lab at Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands, Virginia for 18 months. She then moved to Newport News where she taught 7th grade for one year. The next year, she became an instructor in the Medical Technology program at Riverside Hospital in Newport News, Virginia. Upon closing the program, she became a biology and chemistry teacher at Menchville High School in Newport News, Virginia. Upon retiring, she moved back to Richlands, Virginia in 2004 to be with family and help care for her mother. It was at this time she continued her teaching by working in the GED program, first in Tazewell, and then in Richlands. She loved working with the students and encouraging them to pursue their dreams. She reluctantly retired from the GED program in 2019 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She fought a long and courageous battle and always kept her faith and positive attitude. She attended Richlands First United Methodist Church and loved her church family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death her brother, Cecil C. “Scotty” Lawson, Jr. Survivors are: Sister: Donna Lawson Whittington of Raven, Virginia Sister-In-Law: Toni Lawson in Abingdon, Virginia Nieces: Amanda Scott Lawson Pillion and husband, Todd of Abingdon, Virginia Whitney Lynn Lawson Belt and husband, Randy of Johnson City, TN Mary Cecille Lawson Skeens and husband, Josh of Knoxville, TN Great Nieces: Virginia Rachel Pillion, Riley Lynn Belt, Ryan Ann Belt, Mary Grace Skeens, Mildred Kathryn “Millie” Skeens, and Scotlyn Elizabeth Skeens Great Nephews: Todd Edward “Teddy” Pillion, Henry Scott Pillion, and George Douglas Pillion Step Nieces: Jennifer Marie Whittington of New York City, NY Laura Meagan Whittington Cantrell and husband, Alex of Lexington, KY Step Great Nieces and Nephews: Heidi Marie Harris, Chloe Jayne Cantrell, and Connor Wayne Cantrell Her beloved fur babies: Ebony and Lucky She is also survived by a host of extended family and friends. Funeral services for Wanda Lawson will be conducted Friday, October 7, 2022 at 11am at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, Virginia with the Rev. Gordon McBride and Rev. Danny Houchins officiating. Interment will follow at Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands, Virginia. Pallbearers will be: Doug Altizer, Landon Altizer, Todd Pillion, Randy Belt, Josh Skeens, and Alex Cantrell. Friends may call Thursday evening from 6pm until 9pm on Thursday at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made be made to: Richlands First United Methodist Church, 402 Suffolk Avenue, Richlands, Virginia 24641; The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; or the St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com.

Wanda Carole Marie Lawson

October 19, 1941 - October 2, 2022