Grace Cecelia Lawrence Blackwell,88,of Piney Point, MD departed this life on February 16, 2009 at Fort Washington Hospital after a brief illness.

Grace was born on June 1, 1920 in Great Mills, Maryland to the late Janie Estelle Mason and Morris Andrew Lawrence, Sr. She was baptized on July 4, 1920 at St. Michael's Church in Ridge, Maryland. Grace made her First Holy Communion and was confirmed at St. Nicholas Church in Pearson, Maryland.

She completed her elementary school education in St. Mary's County and in Baltimore. She graduated from Jarboesville High School in its first graduating class in 1938. She attended adult education classes at Cardinal Gibbons High School and later completed income tax preparation classes for the Office on Aging.

Grace was an active member of St. George Catholic Church from 1938 until she moved with her daughters in 2004. Her service included participation on the Parish Council, where she served as Chair of the Social Concerns Committee, the Liturgy Committee, and the Baptismal Team. In addition, she was a Eucharistic Minister and a lector.

Her work history was quite varied. Professional employment included positions with the St. Mary's County Board of Education and the St Mary's County Department of Social Services. She was a volunteer with the Maryland Extension Service and the Office on Aging. Grace retired from the Maryland State Retirement System in 1975.

On August 29, 1938 she married Morris Elmore Blackwell who predeceased her on November 15, 1992. Grace was also predeceased by her daughter, Barbara Ann Somerville; her grandson, William M. Thompson III; her sister, Rosalee Clayton; brothers, Morris Andrew and Joseph Aloysius Lawrence and son-in-law, Kelly W. Somerville.

She leaves to cherish her memory daughters: Mary Elizabeth Thompson (William) and Eleanor Cecelia Dozier (Eugene); grandchildren: Benita Henderson (Tony), Kim Dozier, Eugenia Dozier and Kristie Clark (Gregory); great-grandchildren: LaToya Williams, Marquita, Michael and Mercedes Henderson, LaKendra and Terrence Dozier, Tanisha Dozier and Geordan, Kameryn and Geremy Clark; great-great grandchildren: Jerrell Williams, Myles Shupe, Kaiyah Dotson and Mikayla Henderson; aunt: Agnes Blackistone; sisters: Louise Brown, Ann Clayton, Catherine Briscoe and Geneva Lawrence; sisters-in- law: Nellie Lawrence Clayton and Geneva Blackwell and brother-in-law: Ralph Clayton, Sr.

Grace was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She spent her life serving God, her extended family and her community.

Family will receive friends on Friday, February 20, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in St. George Catholic Church, 19199 St. George's Church Road, Valley Lee, MD 20692. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 p.m. with Monsignor Karl A. Chimiak officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Tony Henderson, Raymond Wiggins, Jr., Dennis Lawrence, Thomas Saxon, Gregory Clark and Bruce Morgan.

Arrangements by the Briasfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.