Joy Vannessa Lawson, 63 of Navarre, FL, left this world on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, to take up residence with her heavenly Father. A native of FWB, Joy was the second of five children born to Earl and Mary Lawson. A daughter of God, proud mother and grandmother and lifetime educator, Joy was passionate about both learning and helping others to develop. She brought joy to everyone she encountered, was loving and warm, persevering in everything , devoted in prayer and a nurturer and mother to many. An independent thinker, she earned her Master’s degree in Counseling/Psychology and worked as a licensed mental health counselor on Hurlburt Field. Joy loved people, bookstores, coffee shops and the mall, loved her family and was passionate about God. Joy’s attitude in life was reflected in her favorite quote, by Eleanor Roosevelt: “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” She was preceded in death by her father, Earl Fletcher Lawson, mother, Mary Louise Sanford Lawson, sister, Cynthia Kay McGowin and brother, Marcus Earl Lawson. Joy is survived by her daughter Michael Lawson of Niceville, FL, granddaughters Michaela and Hannah Luttrell of Niceville, FL, sister Mary Lawson of Brownsboro, TX , sister Angela Sims (Sidney) of Navarre, FL, and sister Mona Sullivan of Panama City, FL. Funeral services for Joy Lawson will be held at 11am Monday, Dec 23, 2019 at Mary Esther Church of God with Pastors Buck Dockery and Joey Fulfer officiating. Burial will follow in Live Oak Cemetery in Crestview, FL.