Elia PowersPatrice Lawrence greeted the first customer...

Elia Powers

Patrice Lawrence greeted the first customer at Starbucks when the

store at Harbor Boulevard and Wilson Street opened five years ago.

She endeared herself to loyal patrons by listening to their daily

rants and engaging them in conversation.

Some customers traveled for miles, bypassing closer Starbucks

locations to have a word with Lawrence.

These days, they come to hear her story.

Lawrence’s co-workers call her “Mama Patrice.” She is their

confidant, their calming influence, the one who welcomed them into

the family and took their place when they were sick.

“She’s our rock,” said store manager Kim Glendinning. “She’s one

of the strongest people I know.”

And now, after a taxing six months, friends say Lawrence is their

source of inspiration.

Lawrence was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in June, more than

a month after she spotted a lump on her neck.

“It was devastating to everyone,” said Jessica Maduro, a former

Starbucks employee who was hired with Lawrence. “When I heard the

news, I told her, ‘We’re all behind you. You’re going to get through

this and see all your kids get married.’ ”

Lawrence, 32, gave birth to her fourth child in April. Four months

later she started chemotherapy treatment.

Lawrence’s co-workers rallied behind her, donating their tip money

and taking customer donations. They raised about $1,000 through an internal Starbucks campaign called “The Cup Fund.” According to

employee Hannah Hankins-Taylor, Starbucks partners can donate part of

their paychecks in the event that a co-worker or family member

suffers a tragedy.

Starting in late December, Lawrence went on disability pay. She

said she plans to return to work full time by the middle of March.

But over the holidays, when the store was barraged with customers,

Lawrence worked extra hours to help ease everyone’s schedules.

“I didn’t want the cancer to get in the way of my life,” Lawrence

said. “I miss my co-workers too much to stay away.”

On Dec. 30, Lawrence’s doctors notified her that she would be

cleared of the cancer after two more chemotherapy treatments.

The next day, Lawrence, husband Van and their children set out on

a road trip to visit Lawrence’s sister in San Jose.

While driving through Valencia, a city 70 miles north of their

Huntington Beach home, the family was involved in a car crash that

killed 6-year-old Katelyn Lawrence.

No one else in the vehicle suffered major injuries, Patrice

Lawrence said.

The family declined to talk about the accident.

Lawrence’s friends said they were devastated by news of the

accident. On her way to Las Vegas, Jenny DuBois said she pulled off

the road and sat in a restaurant for hours.

Glendinning said she couldn’t believe her friend’s bad fortune.

“I fell apart,” she said. “I see [Katelyn’s] face in my head all

the time. When it happened, I lost faith in a lot.”

Glendinning spearheaded another fundraising effort for Lawrence.

She gathered a color picture of Katelyn, wrote a note about Katelyn’s

passing and put both next to a jar near the store’s cash register.

Customers reacted quickly, filling it with money that will go

toward offsetting the costs of Katelyn’s memorial service, scheduled

for 10 a.m. today at The Crossing in Costa Mesa.

Glendinning said the jar fills up with money several times each

day. She said the store receives regular calls from customers

offering to cook meals for Lawrence and donate money to her cause.

One customer reportedly donated more than $1,500. Glendinning said

about $4,000 has been raised thus far.

“I was amazed at how the community came together for me,” Lawrence

said. “One lady donated money to me just because our daughters shared

the same first name.”

Lawrence said she is focusing on spending time with her family.

She makes time for at least two Starbucks visits a week.

“People will always be available for me here,” she said.