Lorraine Boyce

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, Lorraine Juanita Boyce entered into heaven's gates.  This remarkable woman has left the inspiration of wisdom, compassion, generosity, and unconditional love given freely, qualities that grew with each year.  Lorraine was a beautiful, kind, caring, and sassy woman.  She gathered her family and her friends with her welcoming smile and infectious laughter.

One of 8 children, she was born on September 22, 1945, in Barbados to the late Casper Alphonzo and Inez Lorenza Benn.  She was preceded in death by her sister Sybil and brothers Vivian, Jefferson, Emmerson, and Heubourne.

Lorraine enjoyed working as a cook in Barbados but had a passion for nursing.  After migrating to Brooklyn in 1985 she followed her passion and became a Certified Nursing Assistant.  For the first five years, she worked as an in-home nursing assistant before transitioning to the New York Presbyterian Cornell Medical Center where she worked for thirty-plus years as a Recovery room nursing assistant. She loved her job as it was where she met numerous people and nurtured them while spreading joy and positivity with her outgoing and charming personality.

Lorraine was a devout Christian and spent her time quietly reading her bible, attending church services at New Life Ministries International, completing word search puzzles, talking with her many friends on the phone, and shopping.  In 2020 she retired and relocated to Charlotte NC to live with her daughter. An early riser she faithfully watched the TBN morning lineup to get her day started.  Breakfast was usually followed by her judge shows - Judge Karen, Judge Judy, Judge Mathis, Peoples Court, and Hot Bench to name a few.  Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and Family Feud also topped the lists of favorite game shows and she ended the day how she started with the TBN channel.

The 4 of us calling her “Mommy”- Lannette Burke, Richard, Earl, and Troy Boyce and ”Mama”- a nickname given by her first grandchild and adopted by all who knew her are facing a new normal without her active love infusing us daily.  Lorraine is also survived by two daughters-in-law Nicole Boyce and Carol Sterling-Boyce, and 13 grandchildren -  Rasheed Burke, Kamaria Johnson, Tishawn Lovell, Dominique Burke, Khalid Boyce, Nathaniel Boyce, Shenece Boyce, Troy  Lovell-Boyce, Malcolm Boyce, Jeremiah Boyce, Faith Boyce, Chloe  Boyce, Cyrah Boyce and 3 great grands - Roselyn Burke, Leilani Johnson, and Kensley Boyce.  She is also survived by her sisters Clovis Waldron and Juliette Williams, and sister-in-law Christine Boyce. Nieces Elaine Johnson, Candace Boyce-Brewster, Eyi Boyce, Yetsa Boyce, Virginia Boyce, and nephews David Boyce, Ricardo Boyce, Steven Boyce, Anderson Boyce, and Adrian Howard.  Numerous cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends in the US, Barbados, England, and Trinidad.

Mama enjoyed color. Please feel free to honor her vibrant life by wearing bright and happy spring colors as we rejoice with her that she is now in her forever home with Jesus. She will be greatly missed and forever loved.

Visitation will be held Friday, September 23, 2022, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Hartsell Funeral Home, Harrisburg, 12115 University City Blvd., Harrisburg,  NC 28075.   A funeral service will be on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 11:00 am at the Hartsell Funeral Home of  Harrisburg, with Pastor Edmond Campbell officiating. The funeral will be webcast at http://video.ibm.com/channel/drygeSYpxX7 Interment will follow in the Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Gardens.  After the interment there will be a repass at Woodbury Clubhouse, 9024 Gray Willow Road, Charlotte, NC 28227.