Laura T. Brown

Laura Mae Thompson Brown was born on March 6, 1929 in Norristown, Pennsylvania to the late Lewin W. and Letha F. Thompson.  Her parents relocated to the Northern Neck when she was a baby, and they later settled in the Threeway community.  Following a very brief hospitalization, she peacefully departed this life on December 25, 2024, Christmas Day.  She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her brother.

Laura joined Second Baptist Church at an early age.  She attended school in Richmond County and graduated from Richmond County High School at the young age of 16, when she matriculated to Virginia State College based upon advanced academic achievements.  While there, Laura became fully immersed in the college experience.  In addition to maintaining high academic standards, she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in the Fall of 1946; was crowned Miss Virginia State College in 1947-48; and graduated in 1949.

On Christmas Eve of 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, Frank Carroll Brown, Jr., a WWII veteran.   To this union, they were blessed with a son, Gary, and a daughter, Linda.  They enjoyed attending sporting events, dances, and other social activities associated with some of the organizations they were members of including The Happy Pals; The Corregidor Club; Second Baptist Choirs; the Masonic Temple, just to name a few.

As a life-long educator, Laura enjoyed  the challenges of expanding her experiences and her mind through continuing her education well past the completion and awarding of her Master’s Degree from Virginia State University in 1971.  Her thirst for knowledge extended to further studies at The University of Maryland; Virginia Commonwealth University; The College of William and Mary; Virginia Union University; and The University of Virginia.

Her professional career spanned 18 years in the classroom before transitioning into administration and supervision of teachers.  Laura retired in 1994 from a career of more than forty (40) years as a teacher, principal, and supervisor in the Westmoreland County School System.  In this capacity, she impacted hundreds of lives—from students to teachers that she hired as a result of traveling extensively to attract talent to the Northern Neck.  Both students and teachers alike were endeared to her professional manner and caring attitude which developed into friendships and indelibly left life-long impressions, well after her retirement.
Laura contributed her time and talents for the Church in the Second Baptist Missionary Circle; Chairperson of the Finance Committee; Building Fund Committee; Hospitality Committee; Bible Study Class; Progressive Club; and ultimately, a Deaconess. 

Additionally, she served as First Vice-President of the Northern Neck Baptist Women’s Missionary and Education Commission; President of the Local Retired Teachers Association.  She was a Life Member of the N.N. Women’s Commission, and Baptist General Convention Women’s Division; the NAACP; State PTA; N.N. Alliance Board of Directors for Head Start.  

Lastly, she served as Past Worthy Matron of the Rappahannock Chapter of the Eastern Stars; Chartering Member of the Northern Neck Rural Development Coalition Board; Chartering Member and President of the Rappahannock Chapter of Virginia State University’s Alumni Association; Member of Delta Kappa Gamma Education Society; Member of James Farmer Scholars Board of Mary Washington College; Member of the Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula Reading Council; and Member of the Nominating Committee of the Northern Neck Electric Cooperative.

Laura’s hobbies were varied and many, including traveling; reading; sewing; cooking; and spending time with family, especially visiting her grandsons, Brian and Bradley, wherever they lived.  She was an excellent cook, particularly known for her delicious fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, pound cake, and coconut cake.

Laura leaves to sorrowfully cherish her memory, her children, Gary A. Brown (Amalia) of the home; Linda B. Via (Dennis) of McLean, Virginia; grandsons, Brian D. L. Via (Meaghan) and Bradley A. Via (Ashley); great-granddaughter, Caroline Mary Elizabeth Via (Brian and Meaghan); a very special niece, Shirley Gray; nieces; nephews; cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.

A Service of Remembrance for Laura T. Brown, Retired educator of the Westmoreland County School System will be held on Saturday, January 4 at 2PM in the sanctuary of the Second Baptist Church, Warsaw, Virginia.

Interment will follow in the Second Baptist Church Cemetery.

Remains may be viewed from 1PM until service time on Saturday, January 4 at Second Baptist Church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Laura T. Brown, please visit our floral store.