Very sad news: Laurie Verge has passed

[RJNorton]

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.

[Dave Taylor]

Roger,

Thank you for making the forum aware of Laurie's passing. She was an important part of this place and one of the great encyclopedias of the Lincoln assassination story. She will be missed.

[Rob Wick]

Laurie was the first person ever to publish any of my writing on Lincoln.in the Surratt Courier. She and I didn't always see eye to eye on things, but I always was grateful that she published my work. Sympathy to her family.

Best
Rob

[Rogerm]

I am very sorry to hear of Lori's passing. I first got to meet her in person during a visit to the Surratt House in 2011. In 2018, she made it possible for me to attend the Surratt Society's annual conference. I will forever be grateful to her for that act of kindness.

[LincolnMan]

Such a wonderful person. Will be missed by all who knew her. A huge loss too to the Lincoln world.

[J. Beckert]

Very sad news, indeed. Laurie and I became great friends over the years and I'm glad I got to see her this past September, when Rick Smith and I surprised her with a visit at Surratt House. She took me on a tour of the northern end of Booth's escape route in Maryland when I visited in 2013 and we had a great weekend together. She was a veritable encyclopedia of the Lincoln assassination and even more so with the Southern Maryland end, including locations and the inhabitants.

She was a great friend and I'll miss her terribly. Rest easy, my Little Rebel Pal.

[Eva Elisabeth]

It's so sad and hard to realize she's not there anymore. I miss her and owe her so much, she meant a lot to me. Laurie was one of a kind.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote:
"And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me. You will always be my friend." So be it.

Laurie's daughter told she died listening to
"Amazing Grace", which she loved so much.

Please remember her when you listen to it:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NG0vH4WYChQ

[Thomas Kearney]

Roger,

Thanks for informing me about Laurie's passing. Her knowledge on the assassination and other historical tidbits were always enjoyable to read. The yearly conference and other events at the Surratt House that she helped put on were a good way for me to spend time listening and learning more than I already knew. Laurie will be missed by all of us in the Lincoln Discussion Symposium community. My thoughts are with her family.

[Gene C]

I was able to meet Laurie once for a few minutes, but wasn't able to get to know her except through this forum.
I have been blessed by knowing her.

[Susan Higginbotham]

I was so sorry to hear this. She was a wonderful, generous lady.

[David Lockmiller]

I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Laurie. She was such a very strong-willed person. I liked it very much when she and I both agreed on a Lincoln subject. She will be sincerely missed by all of us on the Lincoln Discussion Symposium.

[Dennis Urban]

I am deeply saddened to hear of Laurie's passing. I know she is in a better place where all her questions will be answered. I'm so happy I got to know Laurie over the past several years through my annual visits to Maryland which always included the Surratt House. I spent part of a wonderful afternoon with Laurie this past September when we shared thoughts for an hour or so and I inscribed a copy of my then newly released book for the house library. Through Laurie, my book is now in the Surratt House gift shop. I loved Laurie for her graciousness, her candor, and her wealth of knowledge. She was always willing to share her tie and here knowledge. My eyes will be wet when I remember Laurie in my prayers tonight. Requiescant in pace my dear friend.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Here's a wonderful interview with her:
https://awesometalks-wordpress-com.cdn.a...-museum%2F

[Steve]

I'm so saddened to hear about Laurie's passing. She was one of the most knowledgeable and most helpful members of the Lincoln Assassination Researcher community. But on a more personal note she was a wonderful, kind, and funny person.

For months and months I've been distracted with life and been putting off writing an article for the Surratt Courier about Junius Brutus Booth's family in England which I had promised to Laurie to write. Unfortunately now, she'll never get a chance to read it. I just wanted to include that story as a reminder that one never knows what the future might hold, so don't keep putting off something important.

Laurie, you will be greatly missed.

[RJNorton]

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."