BIO
Joy Lawrence OH is an educator, author of several books on Antigua and Barbuda’s folklore and history, and a poet. Her latest bookBarbuda and Betty’s Hope: the Codrington Connection was released on 7th April 2015. Her first was Island Spice in 1996. Other publications include The Footprints of Parham: the History of a Small Antiguan Town and its Influence, The Way We Talk and other Antiguan Folkways, Caribbean Creoles, and Bethesda and Christian Hill our History and Culture. Her historical interest developed after learning that Bethesda,the village from which she hails, was home to the first slave school in the British West Indies. She continues her quest to document our history one village at a time by turning her attention to the Point area.
FACTS
- Miss Lawrence is in high demand by many schools, churches and community organizations at home and abroad to perform her own poetic dramatizations and historical presentations. Since 2000 she has been head judge in theEnvironment Division annual schools poetry/short storycontest and was Executive Director of the Antigua State College/UNESCO Poetry Contest from 2002 – 2006.
- Well-known authors have reviewed her work for publication in several journals, and thousands have applauded her for her books on the history of Antigua & Barbuda. Her work does not have only local and regional appeal but global reach as well. The Commonwealth Education Trust selected one of her poems, ‘The Whirlwind’ for inclusion in the 2016 anthology ‘A River of Stories’ Volume 3 – Air. Miss Lawrence, a teacher all her working life, continues to take on the educator’s role through her publications and oral presentations worldwide.
- Joy Lawrence is the recipient of a UNESCO Honour Award for outstanding contributions to the improvement of the literary arts in Antigua & Barbuda. Her academic background includes the Degree of Master of Arts, Communications,Media and Public Relations (Merit), from the University of Leicester, UK.
- On Thursday March 30, 2017 at the government House Miss Lawrence was appointed to be an Officer of the Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage by His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda forher work in the preservation of history and culture.