Raquel Conchita Lawson Fielding, 89, of Charleston, SC, widow of the late Judge Bernard Rodolph Fielding, Sr., died on October 8, 2023 in Charleston, SC. She is survived by her children: Bernard R. Fielding, Jr. (Jaycie Rappold) and Constance Felicia Fielding Person; grandchildren: Deja Monae Johnson and Madison Person, great-grandchildren: Brayden Johnson and Bryson Smalls; sister: Marion Kathleen Lawson Stewart Johnson of Deland, Florida; and nephew and niece: Mark and Marla Stewart. She was predeceased by her daughter, Donna Marie Diaz; and parents: Ralph Edward and Constance Dougans Lawson of Luray, VA.

Both services, the visitation with the family on Friday, October 13, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 pm and the funeral service on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 11:00 am will be held at the W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home and Chapel, 2119 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29405. The arrangements are being handled in collaboration with Fielding Home for Funerals.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Conchita Lawson Fielding to The Center for Heirs Property Preservation at 8570 Rivers Avenue, Suite 170, North Charleston, SC 29406.

Mrs. Fielding was born in Baltimore, MD on August 24, 1934, and grew up in Luray, VA. She enrolled at Hampton Institute (now University) in 1952, majored in business education, and graduated with honors in 1956. She and the late Judge Fielding married in 1957. He died on October 9, 2020, at the age of 89.

She was an ex-officio employee of the Fielding Home for Funerals where she served as a board member and secretary for the corporation. Mrs. Fielding retired as a federal employee in 1998 with 40 years of service including 34 years with the U.S. Customs Service. She was the first African American woman employed by the U.S. Customs in Charleston.

Her community affiliations included Gamma Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. the National Hampton Alumni Association, the Charleston Chapter of the Hampton Alumni Association, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (retired), and the Charleston (SC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated (retired). The family attends Centenary United Methodist Church on Wentworth Street in downtown Charleston.