Laura Ashley Shepherd

Virginia Beach - Laura Ashley Shepherd, beloved daughter of Jo Ann and David Shepherd, died Oct. 20, 2012. She was born on Oct., 2, 1987. She attended Baylake Pines School, was a graduate of Bayside High School, and attended Tidewater Community College. Laura loved music, from Mozart to Rufus Wainwright. She was a gifted writer and photographer. A lover of animals, Laura helped raise her beloved Portuguese Water Dog, CH Navio's Stormy Sea (Mariah), and showed dogs in AKC sanctioned shows. Always ready to support the community, she found time to volunteer at the Virginia Beach Marine Science Museum and for the 2008 Obama Presidential Campaign.

Taken, all too soon, from her loving family, Laura is survived by her devoted parents; her doting fraternal grandparents, John A. and Shirley Shepherd; and maternal grandmother Thelma S. Matthews, as well as aunts and uncles, John L. and Denise Shepherd, Patricia and Thomas O'Reilly, Peggy and Doug Clough, Linda and Ken Phumphrey, and Dr. Duane A. and Carolyn Lawrence. Laura's love extended to a multitude of cousins and close friends, including her second family, Frederick and Patricia Cazenave, and their son John Cazenave, always a brother to Laura.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday Oct. 26, 2012 at Rosewood Kellum Funeral Home. A service will be held at Ocean View Baptist Church 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 at Ocean View Baptist Church 9504 Selby Place, Norfolk, VA 23504.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ocean View Baptist Church food closet are requested. You may pay condolences to the family at www.kellumfuneralhome.com.