Mabel Juliet (Gaines) Lawson

Mabel Juliet “Judy” Lawson was born on September 8th, 1938, at Braddock Hospital. She was raised in Rankin, PA. At just 10 years of age, Ms. Inez taught her how to iron. She used this to help her transition into what would become years of domestic work. She began her career at Presbyterian Hospital working in the housekeeping department. She worked there until retiring in, 2000. She then worked odd jobs as a personal housekeeper, jitney driver at Big How’s Car Service, and as a companion. Mabel became a member of both the Duquesne Family Support Center and Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

She enjoyed talking on the phone and watching The Young and the Restless, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, and her Western Shows. Early in her retirement, following the passing of her daughter Lisa, she took guardianship of her two granddaughters Anitra and Jaquayla, her pride and joy. She often referred to them as Baby doll and Sugar babe. She cared for them up until her passing.

Mabel departed from this life in the early hours of Saturday, November 5, 2022, at West Penn Hospital. She was preceded in death by her, mother, Elizabeth Gaines, father, Fred Gaines, sister, Frieda Harrison, and daughter, Lisa Ann Jenkins (Clarence Jenkins Jr.).

Mabel leaves to mourn her three sons, William Lawson II, of East Liberty, PA. Darrell Lawson Sr. of West Mifflin, PA., Donald Lawson (Stephanie Johnson) of Erie, PA., daughter, Marita Tabb of Atlanta, GA., thirteen grandchildren, Darrell Lawson Jr., Vanity Lawson, Kyle Miller-Lawson (Samantha Lawson), Dawn Marie Lawson, Michael Tabb, Anitra Jenkins, Danielle Garren, Carley Neal, Lianna Lawson, Brian Knight Jr., Jaquayla Jenkins-Lawson, Starr Yoculan, Lisa Lawson, eight, great-grandchildren, and one, great-great-grandchild. She always had a special relationship with her family in love Rosia Reid, Valerie Morris, and Shawn Reeves all of Duquesne, PA, Darlene Burns of West Mifflin, PA, her niece Kathi (Peachy) Elliott of Pittsburgh, PA, dear friends, Bobbie Manigault, of Pittsburgh, PA., and Mae Settles, of California and her very best friend of 65 years Dolores Montgomery of Arizona, and hosts of additional family and friends

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