Very sad news: Laurie Verge has passed

[Dave Taylor]

Mary McHale, a great-granddaughter of Dr. Mudd is a regular contributor to the The Enquirer-Gazette, a local newspaper for Prince George’s County, MD. She often submits local interest pieces. In her most recent column she touched on Laurie’s death. While the article is here, it is behind a paywall. I’ve transcribed what she wrote about Laurie for those who are interested.

“Surratt House founding member, museum director dies at 76

I can’t imagine walking into the Surratt House office and not seeing Laurie sitting at the desk. She was known as a leading authority on the Civil War, the Lincoln assassination and local Southern Maryland history. Or as I think of her, she knew everybody.

Laura Elizabeth “Laurie” verge was born on Oct. 24, 1943, to Noel Owen Mays and Laura Elysebeth Burroughs Mays at Mitchel Field, N.Y. From a young age until adulthood, Laurie was the organist at the Chapel of the Incarnation in Brandywine.
At Gwynn Park High School, she was a 1961 graduate and salutatorian. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1965 from Frostburg State College where she was involved in a variety of clubs and activities, especially Alpha Xi Delta women’s fraternity. She went on to teach history and government at Spaulding Junior High School in Forestville.

Laurie married and became a stay-to-home mom to daughter Jennifer. For some years she was a dance mom, spending countless hours behind the desk of the Linda Natoli Dance Studio and at dance competitions.

Then her life really changed. Her love of history led her to become a founding member of the Surratt Society and one of the first docents at the restored Surratt House in Clinton. In the mid-‘80s she became a full-time employee of the museum, under the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission. She worked as director until her death.

Laurie’s daughter, Jenifer Diane Verge Morphew, and grandson, Aaron Brayden Alexander Morphew, survive her. Laurie was particularly proud of her grandson’s shared love of history and dedication to education. Visitation was at the Huntt Funeral Home with a brief burial service at the Huntt Family Cemetery in Waldorf on Feb. 28. The obituary was sent out by Joe Gotshall, a good friend of Laurie’s and a member of the Gotshall family who, years ago lived on Allies Road in Morningside.”