Laura Deems

Laura Stewart Deems, 92, of Dinwiddie County, died Friday morning, August 17, 2012 at Southside Regional Medical Center. Laura was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina, but spent most of her childhood on a farm in Nottoway County. She is the widow of Sgt. Major Donald Deems, and is survived by her three children, Prof. Sherran Deems of Savannah, Georgia, Dr. Donna Elder and her husband, Judge Larry Elder of Ford, and Steve Deems of Powhatan; her five grandchildren, Jessica Dunn, Justin Diamond, Donald Lyle Elder, James Eric Elder, and Lara Beth Elder, and two great-grandchildren, Tristan and Ryleigh Dunn. Laura is also survived by two sisters, Margaret Pettirossi and Thelma Lampkin. As the wife of an active duty soldier, Laura lived in many different locations; including Panama, Maryland, Taiwan, and Texas. After his retirement from the Army, she and Don settled here in Virginia. She stayed busy raising her family, was active in church activities at Ivey Memorial United Methodist Church, a volunteer at McGuire Veterans Hospital, and an avid golfer with the Ladies Group at Fort Lee. Laura was able to continue golfing until well into her 80's and attributed her good health to this activity. In later life, she had a special relationship with her friend, Barbara Davis, who drove her to that all important morning coffee group at Hardee's A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 in the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard with the Reverend John Fair officiating. Burial to follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Chester. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family wishes to thank the Dinwiddie Health and Rehabilitation Center for their care over the difficult final years of her life.