Laura Baker Camp

Laura Baker Camp was a “hoot” to everyone who knew her. A fiercely loyal and generous mother, grandmother and friend, who was never afraid to speak her mind, Laura always championed the underdog. She loved to laugh and have a good time; at 84, she remained forever young.

Laura was born in Chevrolet, Kentucky, the youngest of three sisters–Caroline, Blanche and Mary–all of whom preceded her in death. Laura’s father, Charles Randall Baker, was a coal miner, while her mother, Evelyn Thompson Baker, worked in retail. Laura spent most of her life in Birmingham, Alabama where she was married twice, with one daughter from each marriage: Laura Leigh Hancock (62) and Courtney Mayeur Bowen (44). A loving and mercurial mother, she raised her girls to be strong, independent and compassionate women.

As much as she adored her daughters, Laura vowed that she loved her grandchildren–Finn (24), Cleve (16) and Carter (6)--even more. Known as “AG” (Alpha Granny) to Finn and “Snake” to Cleve and Carter, she was the kind of grandmother who got down on the floor and played whatever they wanted to play. Her grandchildren could do no wrong, and she let everyone know that.

In 1971, Laura and her first husband, Cordell Hancock, were kicked out of Fairview Methodist Church in Birmingham for voting to integrate the church; for the rest of her life, she spoke out fearlessly against discrimination and injustice. Although she had little money, Laura was extremely generous to family, friends and those in need.

Retiring in 2006, Laura moved to Athens, Alabama, to live with her older sister Blanche. For fifteen years the two sisters laughed, reminisced, quarreled and totally disregarded their diabetic diets. Laura never fully recovered from Blanche’s death last summer.

Laura loved to visit the Pacific Northwest, where her older daughter lived; she made annual trips to White Salmon, Washington, often accompanied by her grandson Cleve. Over the years Laura had many adventures there: camping, picking huckleberries, doing somersaults on her grandson’s trampoline, and once even surviving covid that she caught on the plane.

In 2023, following a small stroke, Laura moved to Jackson, Tennessee to live with Courtney, her husband Lane Bowen, and their two children. Six months ago, she moved into Brookdale Jackson Oaks Senior Living, where she made many new friends who were drawn to her quick wit and kindness. She loved her little apartment at Brookdale, and hoped to live there the rest of her life, which she did.

She is survived by her daughters, Leigh Hancock (m. Bengt Coffin) and Courtney Bowen (m. Lane Bowen); her three grandchildren, Finn Coffin, Cleve Bowen and Carter Bowen; two granddogs, Marley and Ripple; and many friends, all of whom will deeply miss her warmth, sense of fun, resilience and love. There will never be another person like her.