It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved and beautiful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and dear friend, Laura Botts, on August 15, 2022. Those of us left behind mourn this great loss for our family and community, but find peace in knowing that she’s been reunited with so many loved ones in Heaven. The biggest welcome smile and warmest embrace surely came from her dear husband and love of her life, James Burnett Botts, Jr., who reached his eternal home 4 years before her.
A recently found treasure trove of love letters tells the story of Jimmy and Laura meeting in the 10th grade on a blind date. They built a beautiful life during their 50 year relationship, often hosting friends and family at gatherings in their home filled with music, food, fun and laughter. In their long awaited post-retirement years, they valued time spent traveling together and with friends to Alabama football games, Blues Cruises and trips that took them to destinations within the states that they’d always dreamed of seeing together. Comfort from this great loss is found as we imagine Laura and Jimmy joyously reuniting and dancing together again (most likely to James Brown).
Laura will be deeply missed by her daughters, Meredith Botts Jordan (Josh) and Amanda Botts. Their memories of spending every Saturday morning of their childhood shopping with their mother, who was a constant fixture at both Bel-Air and Springdale Malls, will always make them smile as they joke that their early math lessons came from calculating discounts on the sales racks. Fashion, beauty and looking her best was always important to Laura, and she did it so well, especially when wearing her favorite color, blue. Her grandson, Joshua “Miles” Jordan was her pride and joy and his birth in 2011 allowed her to share her love for children’s literature, learning and discovery in her new role as “Dusty.” She and Jimmy, or “Pap,” collectively taught Miles how to catch and net a fish in Little Lagoon and he will always have a special fondness for Pap’s chicken pot pie and Dusty’s zucchini bread, which they often made together.
Laura was preceded in death by her father, Claude Lee, her mother, Dorothy Lee, and her brother, Rusty Lee. She will be lovingly remembered by her sister, Susan Lee Klonne (Mike), her sister-in-law Jan Lindsey (Gene), and her brother-in-law Judson Botts, as well as a slew of nieces and nephews and dear friends who remained by her side until the very end.
Educational excellence held special value to Laura. After graduating from Shaw High School in 1971 she spent a year pursuing collegiate studies at Auburn University, but the distance away from Jimmy was too great to bear. She returned to Mobile to complete her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, and later her Master’s Degree, at The University of South Alabama. Teaching was Laura’s passion and God-given skill. She began her career at Craighead Elementary, then moved to George Hall Elementary before settling at Dodge Elementary, where her daughters were able to attend school daily with her. She retired after 25 years from the State of Alabama, only to then teach for 15 more years at Escatawpa Elementary in Moss Point, Mississippi. Her storied, 40-year career is best told by her students, who up until very recent weeks would recognize and speak to her about their experience in her classroom. She poured her heart into embettering the lives of the children she taught, and won many Teacher of the Year awards for her efforts. Alabama History and Science were her favorite subjects to instruct, and 4th grade was always where her heart was.
Laura was a woman of strong faith, having grown up at Spring Hill Baptist Church and later joining St. Luke’s Episcopal Church where she served over the years in various volunteer roles. She was also a member of Alpha Delta Kappa and spent many summers leading childrens’ educational science camps at the Environmental Studies Center.
A compassionate caregiver always, Laura spent a great deal of free time caring for those in need including neighbors, friends and family. As she helped care for her mother, Dorothy Lee until her passing in 2007, Laura extended that same loving care to other elderly members within the community, bringing them companionship and joy and adding meaning to their final days.
Her family would like to thank special friends who visited her constantly, as well as professionals who made her final years of life battling Alzheimer’s Disease especially joyful. Her caregiver, Susan Dotson and the staff at Seabrook Pointe Memory Care will always hold a special place in our hearts. The nurses and staff at The Retreat of Saad Hospice will lovingly be remembered as angels on earth that helped to guide Laura home.
Friends, family, former students and anyone who would like to remember Laura’s impactful life are welcome to join us for visitation at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, August 23 from 10:00-11:00 AM, with a memorial service to immediately follow.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name and memory to Hilarity for Charity, a national non-profit and leader in brain health research and education, which has a special focus on caring for families facing Alzheimer’s Disease with their loved ones.
Memorials may be made in honor of Laura Botts to Hilarity for Charity, 9301 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 507,Beverly Hills, CA 90210,www.wearehfc.org.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”
John 14:27-28
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com for the Botts family.
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