I am so sooo sorry ...

Laurie was one in a million. I am lucky that I was able to meet her in person; her posts here were always interesting and well thought out. What a sad day for the historical community! Prayers to her family.

When I retired as a middle school teacher I had trouble finding what to do with myself. Eventually I decided to attempt to create a Lincoln website for students. And I would offer to try and assist students with their homework through emails. I had subscribed to the Surratt Courier for years, and I contacted Laurie c. 1996-1997. We never had any previous contact. I asked for her help with the assassination section of the website, and I was overwhelmed by her incredibly positive reply. And she gave me two other contacts of people who were also most helpful - Betty Ownsbey and Ed Steers.

After exchanging a few emails with Laurie we became aware that we both were the same age. I was almost exactly one month older than Laurie.

We decided we could help each other with students. If she received emails at Surratt House about Abraham Lincoln she would forward them to me. And if I received emails about the assassination I would forward them to her. I soon learned her knowledge of the assassination was encyclopedic while my knowledge of Lincoln was typical of an 8th grade teacher. BIG DIFFERENCE! I soon learned why she was salutatorian of her high school class. (I was 129th and looking out the windows too much; couldn't wait to get out, run home, and watch what remained of the Cubs' game.)

The arrangement of helping each other with emailed questions lasted right up until her final illness.

I really have no way of expressing the positive impact Laurie had on my life. I wish I was enough of a writer to do so. The words are in my heart, and maybe someday they will come out, and I can express them.

I feel it is almost impossible to express in the fullest terms, the impact that Laurie has had on all of our lives. She has been a great nurturer to all of us. She has been a catalyst in all of our research and her contributions, directly and indirectly will forever have an impact on the education and understanding of the most significant event in the 19th century. Her footprint is on all of our individual and group efforts. Without Laurie, I never would have met Rich. If our joint projects (Rich & I) did not have her encouragement and endorsements, they may have never been done I think the same can be said of all of our collective output.

Laurie succeeded in her life's mission of expanding the knowledge of and interest in the Lincoln Assassination. Her other great passion was her grandson, who will sorely miss her. So take a moment, think a good thought and say a prayer for Laurie. There will never be another like her. May God bless her sole and all of us left in her wake.

Everyone has written such wonderful words about Laurie. I never had the chance to meet her, but I did have opportunities to talk with her on the phone. She was indeed special.

As I reminisce, I must say that I always looked forward to her posts on this forum. Each one was informative, but I was always excited to read each post and within it find evidence of her strong will and her intellect. Both were ever-present in her writings.

I want to extend my sincerest condolences to her family and friends. They lost a special loved one and we lost a friend and an extraordinary historian.

Bob

I have received this request from Louise Oertly and Coby Treadway at Surratt House:

"To honor her years at the Surratt House, Coby and I have decided to dedicate the April Courier to Laurie. If you have any stories or memories you would like to share, please send them to either Coby or me by March 5. We may have to cut them slightly for space in the Courier, but I'm planning to give Jen the originals Memories are precious, but shared ones are even better--especially if they are written down."

Coby is a member here, and memories from folks interested in doing this could be sent to him through the forum. Or they can be sent to me and I shall forward.

Now she knows the answers to all the mysteries we have been searching for. R.I.P. Laurie

Laurie published my first article in the Surratt Courier, and she was very encouraging (and helpful) while I was writing my book. I will also be glad I acknowledged her in it.

I also admired how she loved her grandson. She was so proud of him.

(02-23-2020, 03:28 PM)RJNorton Wrote: As some of you know Laurie has been very ill for the past several weeks, and I am heartbroken to say that she passed today. I talked briefly with Jennifer, Laurie's daughter, this afternoon. Laurie died at George Washington Hospital in Washington. More information will be posted when it becomes available.

There are few people I know of whom I can honestly say they are irreplaceable. Laurie was one of them. She will be missed by everyone.

(02-24-2020, 10:04 AM)RJNorton Wrote: I just received a note from Laurie's daughter, Jen. She asked me to share with everyone:

"Mom continued to give after death. She was an organ donor so they were able to use her tissue for skin grafts. Any that can't physically be used will go for research and educational purposes."

One should salute to that.

I am heartbroken to learn of Laurie's passing. She was always kind, helpful, and generous with her time, knowledge, and love. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Laura Elizabeth Verge

OCTOBER 24, 1943 – FEBRUARY 23, 2020

Obituary of Laura Elizabeth Verge

Laura “Laurie” Elizabeth Verge (Mays), 76, of Brandywine, Maryland, passed away February 23, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

Laurie was born on October 24, 1943 to the late Noel Owen Mays and late Laura Elysebeth Burroughs Mays at Mitchel Field, New York. From a young age until adulthood she was the organist at the Chapel of the Incarnation in Brandywine, Maryland. She was a 1961 graduate and salutatorian of Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine, Maryland. She attended Frostburg State College where she enjoyed a variety of clubs and activities, especially Alpha Xi Delta Women's Fraternity. She graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education.

After college, Laurie taught History and Government in the Prince George’s County Public Schools at Spaulding Jr. High School in Forestville, Maryland until 1972. At that time, she married and gave birth to a daughter in 1973. While a stay at home mother, she dedicated her time to her daughter as a dance mom, spending countless hours behind the desk of the Linda Natoli Dance Studio and at dance competitions. During this time, her love for history was fueled again when she became a founding member of the Surratt Society and one of the first volunteer docents at the Surratt House Museum in Clinton, Maryland.

In the mid-1980’s, Laurie became a full-time employee of the Surratt House Museum under the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She continued to work at the Surratt House until her death as the Museum Director. During her long tenure she was blessed to meet and make many wonderful friends and colleagues. She was known as a leading authority in the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination and local Southern Maryland history.

She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Diane Verge Morphew, and her grandson, Aaron Brayden Alexander Morphew. She was particularly proud of her grandson’s shared love of history and dedication to education.

Visitation will take place at the Huntt Funeral Home on Thursday, February 27, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A brief burial service will be held at 12:00 pm on Friday, February 28, 2020 at the Huntt Family Cemetery located near 12549 Mattawoman Dr, Waldorf, MD 20601.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Surratt Society (9118 Brandywine Road, Clinton, MD 20735) in remembrance of her love and dedication to the society and its members.

I'm so glad that I had the chance to send Laurie a message a couple weeks ago and let her know that, even though we never met or talked on the phone or interacted in any way except on this forum, she did touch my life in important ways.

I don't know any of the details regarding Laurie's health problems, but I do know that she must have suffered and probably was in pain, or at the very least, was frustrated at not being able to get her body to do what she needed it to do much of the time.

As director of a museum, she had to have had a lot of contact with people, which requires being courteous and helpful, optimistic and encouraging, etc. How she was able to do that day in and day out for many years, with all her physical ailments, is beyond my comprehension. Her love for her work must have been the lifeline that sustained her.

I'm comforted by the thought that she is at peace now. I will miss her posts and I won't forget her.

Here is the link to Laurie's obituary at the Hunt Funeral Home:

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituari...ge-9049316

What a painful loss. I'll always remember Laurie for her thoughtful encouragement and generosity. I loved her feisty personality, honesty & willingness to engage in spirited debate and conversation. Luckily, we we were on the same side on most topics!

Laurie left an indelible mark on so many of us and played a key role in assisting myself & Barry in our research.

She will be deeply missed. My heartfelt condolences go out to her family and friends. I am unable to attend her memorial service but she will be in my thoughts and prayers. May she rest in peace.

John E. Elliott