May 9, 1920 – October 9, 2012

by Gertrude Murchison, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem, 2016

Miss Laura Louise Hooper, a lady who shared her gifts, was the daughter of Thomas Harrison Hooper and Willie Taylor Hooper of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was a lifelong member of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem, where she was dedicated to the ministry of the church, spiritually, physically and financially. Her earliest memory of the church’s clergy was that of the Rev. Joseph Theodore McDuffie, who served the congregation from 1924 to 1927.

Laura was trained early to work in the church. She washed the church’s linen, sang in both the youth and adult choirs and played the organ for many congregational ministries. She taught Sunday school for several years and motivated many young people. She grew flowers for the beautification of the outside of the church and taught flower arranging to the church women. Along with doing calligraphy for the church and the Episcopal Church Women, she was the “go to person” when historical information about the church, the Episcopal Church Women and the Diocese of North Carolina was needed.

Laura developed her talents in oil acrylic painting and a range of sewing skills from quilting to knitting and crocheting. She also taught the church women these skills, and they made aprons and kneelers. She served the Women’s Auxiliary/Episcopal Church Women as a youth advisor, Christian Education leader, a Christian Social Relations member, and was the branch ECW Treasurer for many years. She also served as a member of the St. Stephen’s Vestry.

At the diocesan level Laura participated in many ways, including service as a Lay Delegate to several Diocesan Conventions and ECW Annual Meetings. She mentored many of Saint Stephen’s church women and women in the community. The Episcopal Church was very dear to Laura Louise Hooper’s heart and she was an inspiration to all she met.