Mrs. Julia K. Halterman's Obituary
Julia (Jill) K. Lawrence Halterman, 61, passed away Monday, November 5th, 2018 in Alive Hospice Residence in Nashville, Tennessee surrounded by friends and family.
Jill was born on December 31, 1956 in Nashville, TN to Herman Clayton (HC) Lawrence and Elizabeth Ann Abernathy. Jill grew up in Southern Illinois and graduated from Anna-Jonesboro High School. To her youngest brother’s dismay, Jill left home and went to college in Greenville, Illinois. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Greenville College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 1979. Right out of college, Jill worked as a pulmonary lab tech specializing in black lung.
With Jill’s love of science, she applied and received a job as a forensic scientist for the Illinois State Police Crime Lab located in Springfield, Illinois. During her employment at the lab, she helped establish the Illinois State Police Crime Lab in Chicago. Jill attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Pharmacology, and received her Master’s Degree in Criminology.
Jill testified as an expert witness in many trials during her tenure at the Crime Lab and after 16 years, she left the Crime Lab to become an attorney. In 2002 at 45 years old, Jill graduated Southern Illinois University, School of Law with a Juris Doctorate degree. During the same year, she took the Illinois Bar Exam and passed the first time. Eventually, Jill ended up working for the State of Illinois again in Springfield, Illinois as an Attorney.
After reconnecting with her high school sweet heart, Tim, she retired and moved to Tennessee with her beloved dog, Zeus. Jill married the “Love of her Life” on September 12th, 2015. Jill spent her last years traveling with her husband, visiting the grandkids, going to the dog park with Zeus, and reading any book that caught her eye.
Survivors include her husband, Timothy; two step-children, Corey (Leah) Halterman of Moscow, ID and Paige (Steven) Ward of Burleson, TX; eight grandchildren, Abigail, Lily, Eliana, Gideon, Peyton, Remington, Kale, and Josiah; four brothers, Jack (Beverly) Lawrence of Winston-Salem, N.C., James “JC” (Mary) Lawrence of Jackson, MO, Joseph “Joe” Lawrence of Nashville, TN, and Jonathan (Sherri) Lawrence of Clarksville, TN.; beloved nieces and nephews; and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation will be on Monday, November 12th, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. until the time of service at Spring Hill Funeral Home in Nashville, TN.
Funeral service for Julia Lawrence will be held at 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Nashville Humane Society or National Public Radio (NPR)
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