Rena Pearl Gaskill Lawrence

Rena Pearl Gaskill Lawrence, 87, passed peacefully at home on June 3, 2024.  

A funeral service to honor Rena’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 8^th at Harkers Island Pentecostal Holiness Church, officiated by Rev. Paul Loftin and Brother Anthony Nelson. Interment will follow at Vergie Mae Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.  

She was born on Easter Sunday, March 28, 1937, in Stacy, North Carolina to Eugene and Nellie Gaskill. Rena Pearl moved with her family to her mother’s childhood home on Harkers Island, when she was just a small child.  She remained a resident of Harkers Island for the rest of her life.  

Rena Pearl met the love of her life, Cecil Lawrence of Otway when she was just 14 years old. They eloped to Conway, South Carolina and were married on September 25, 1953. She was just 16 years old and Cecil only 18. They were married just shy of 64 years, when Cecil passed away in 2017. Into their union one daughter, Cecila was born. Cecila was a devoted daughter to Rena throughout her life, especially during the last few years as Rena’s health was declining. 

Rena loved the Lord and her family, and it was evident every time you spoke with her. She would often talk about her daughter Cecila and granddaughter, Allison, but the apple of her eye, her great granddaughter, Carrington, was her favorite topic. Rena will be missed by her family, but we have the assurance we will see her again.  

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Lawrence, parents, Eugene and Nellie Gaskill, maternal grandparents Howard and Mary Willis, paternal grandparents, Joe and Elizabeth Gaskill, and many extended family members.

She is survived by her daughter, Cecila Smith (Tommy) of Harkers Island, granddaughter Allison Guthrie (Joshua) of Harkers Island, great-granddaughter, Carrington Guthrie, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.  

The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers during this difficult time, especially Carteret Health Care Home Health and Hospice and her caretakers, Gina Blackwood, Ashley Lupton, Joanne Poole, Deb Willis, Kimberly Willis, and Tanya Willis.  

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.