Very sad news: Laurie Verge has passed

[Wesley Harris]

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.

I have been trying to come up with the words to express what Laurie meant to me. Jim's comments came close to what I've been trying to put into words. Laurie was such an encourager and nurturer. She often fed me tidbits, resources, and contacts for my research. I saw her eyes light up when she learned of a young person interested in this topic. She gave me opportunities that made the book I'm writing possible. She was a friend.

[Tom Bogar]

Tentatively approaching the registration desk of my first Surratt Society Conference nearly twenty years ago, I was immediately enveloped by the warm welcome of Laurie Verge, who despite not knowing me from Adam and despite her manifold responsibilities for the conference, took the time to ask what had brought me there and what I was working on. I think nearly every one of us can remember our first impression of Laurie, and I’ll bet it was similar to mine. I’ve long lost track of how many times since then I relied on her advice and phenomenal knowledge about the Lincoln assassination. Her review of my book remains to this day at the head of the queue, voted “Most Helpful,” a phrase that certainly sums up Laurie and her tireless dedication to the cause of the diligent pursuit of accurate, verifiable research. She was the gold standard of “getting it right,” and I pitied anyone foolish enough to stand in her way. For this I respected her immensely, and will always treasure memories of my interactions with her.

Tom

[Mylye2222]

What a sad news.
As quite a newbie here I didn't knew her much, but I can feel the loss it means to all of you there.
My thoughts are with you, as well as with her, her family and friends.

[mbgross]

Very sad to hear this, I enjoyed her posts so much. Prayers for her family.

[JMadonna]

We will never know another person like Laurie.

[Jim Garrett]

I attended the viewing and funeral for Laurie. All full with grace and dignity. Laurie was a true tour de force in the Lincoln Assassination research community. While her written contributions are mostly articles, her true legacy can be found in the Acknowledgments, Thanks and Dedications of the numerous scholarly books dealing with all facets of the assassination of our 16th President. Her impact will outlive any of us on the symposium today.

Laurie, I can honestly say that I, myself and many along with me already miss your council and encouragement. Bless you and rest in peace.

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A special thanks goes out to daughter Jen, and grandson Aaron for including many of us yesterday and today, to honor Laurie.

[Leon Greene]

It is so sad to hear of Laurie's passing. My first communication with Laurie was in 2015. She didn't know me, but she was gracious, helpful, and tolerant of my ignorant questions about Lincoln and the Civil War. She continued to give me kind and useful advice over the next few years. We first met face-to-face at the 2019 Surratt Conference, where she treated my wife and me like long-lost friends. What a jewel she was! We will all miss her. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." (Psalm 116:15)

[LincolnMan]

I attended the viewing and funeral for Laurie. All full with grace and dignity. Laurie was a true tour de force in the Lincoln Assassination research community. While her written contributions are mostly articles, her true legacy can be found in the Acknowledgments, Thanks and Dedications of the numerous scholarly books dealing with all facets of the assassination of our 16th President. Her impact will outlive any of us on the symposium today.

Laurie, I can honestly say that I, myself and many along with me already miss your council and encouragement. Bless you and rest in peace.

---

A special thanks goes out to daughter Jen, and grandson Aaron for including many of us yesterday and today, to honor Laurie.

I'm glad you were able to attend and to represent in that way the Lincoln Symposium community among others.

[Anita]

Thanks to everyone for sharing here about Laurie. Your moving words and personal experinces add to my gratitude for having met Laurie through this forum. I was new to Lincoln studies when I joined and Laurie was one of the members who welcomed me. Laurie wrote on all things Lincoln and more. Yes, she was a wordsmith but not all worsmiths have the depth of knowledge, the desire to share and collaborate and love of learning that came through in her posts. We never met in person yet I came to know her. Laurie shared her passion for history and teaching, her values, family history and love of her daughter and grandson who brought her much joy. She supported young student members with encouragement and respect. She had a wicked sence of humor. She leaves a rich professional legacy. I am missing her but I know she still lives here. I just need to read one of her 10,000 plus posts and Surratt Courier newsletters.

[Eva Elisabeth]

She leaves a rich professional legacy. I am missing her but I know she still lives here. I just need to read one of her 10,000 plus posts and Surratt Courier newsletters.

"But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."

[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.”

[LincolnMan]

Lincoln once commented that his one great ambition was to be truly esteemed by his fellow men and worthy of their esteem. Laurie achieved those aims for herself in every way.

[richard petersen]

So sad to hear of her passing. What I admired more than her incredible knowledge of the Lincoln Assassination was her patience in answering questions and what an incredible teacher she was.
I feel honored that when I asked a question that was not on the forum, she took the time to answer.
Thank you Laurie .

[wpbinzel]

It has taken a little time to recover from the shock and to settle my thoughts and tribute to Laurie Verge. Laurie was a force of nature. It is practically impossible to pick up a book dealing with the subject of Lincoln’s assassination written in the past 40 years that does not contain an acknowledgement to Laurie. Her encyclopedic knowledge of the subject was apparent to all who met her, and she never lost her instincts as a superb teacher. Thanks to Roger Norton, some of that knowledge has been captured on this forum and is an extraordinary legacy to all who will come along. I tell people that Laurie used an unfair tactic to recruit me, first as a Surratt House docent and later as vice president of the Surratt Society; namely, she asked me nicely (as if I could ever say “no” to her). As much as I will miss her, I consider myself very fortunate to have known her and to have been her friend. I know of no greater tribute to Laurie than to do what I and others can to continue her life’s work for the Surratt House Museum, the Surratt Society, and the quest for research in this field.

[ELCore]

I am so sorry to hear this. Requiescat in pace.