Lorraine Wardlaw

LORRAINE WARDLAW, born in Greenville, South Carolina on August 9, 1921, Lorraine was the eldest child of John and Elsie (Johnson) Crooks.  Lorraine was the granddaughter to Mattie and York Johnson and sister to Yolanda, Gladys, Billy and John.  She was the mother of Mildred and Katherine.  After the death of her father and the illness of her mother, the family separated and Lorraine was raised by various family members.  Despite the hardships she went through, Lorraine was a cheerful, carefree, and adventurous child. Later in the life she would come to share many stories of her childhood with her children and grandchildren. 

Small wonder that when she met Robert Wardlaw, a tall, hardworking and strong willed young man, he would be fascinated by her, and strong willed young man, he would be fascinated by her, and it would be a bond between the two for life.  Robert had a wonderful sense of  humor, loved to sing, and had a gift for storytelling.  Lorraine was a friendly, free heart.  She loved music and engaging in good conversation.  They were married, and to this union two daughters were born.  Robert loved the peace of country living, while Lorraine longed for the life styled in town.  So they chose to live a few years in the town and a few years and a few years in the country.  The one thing they both loved was going to church on Sunday with their box meal as a family.  Lorraine loved going to church.  She loved the Lord and she laid that foundation of faith for her children.  Once their daughters were older the family moved to make a better life for themselves and join their family that had relocated to Buffalo, NY.

Lorraine took pride in being a homemaker and kept her home immaculate.  She enjoyed collecting figurines, crystal, church hats, and dolls. Lorraine took greater joy in helping raise her grandchildren,   "Grandma's little roses", she called them.  Lorraine's home was always filled with music or her favorite T.V. show like "I Love Lucy" playing.  Lorraine shared her work ethic and made certain her grandchildren knew God.

In 1993, Lorraine was devastated by the loss of her husband Robert.  She was finally able to overcome her sadness and grief and would say that "The Lord took it from me".  She vowed she would never remarry and that "Jesus was her husband".  She had to lean on her faith with the loss of her daughter Mildred the following year.  Over the next several years, Lorraine has seen four generations of grandchildren and the love of a family that she cherished. Lorraine stood strong with the loss of her daughter Katherine and she never questioned her faith.  Lorraine chose to honor the life of her child with a song of love.

We will always known that we were protected by the prayers our grandmother. Grandma carried a Bible and tambourine on her peaceful journey to paradise

Family will receive friends Saturday, June 24, 2017, 10am at Trinity Baptist Church, 2926 Bailey Ave. Funeral to follow at 11am.

Interment held at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

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