Laura Martin Flinchum

Laura Martin Flinchum passed away peacefully on March 22, 2023 in Huntersville NC.  She was preceded in death by her father, William Watson Martin and her mother, Helen Cranford (Eugene). She is survived by her husband, Alton Hoytt Flinchum Jr of Huntersville, and her son Brett Flinchum, his wife Becky, Laura's  granddaughters India and Grace Flinchum of Mountain View CA. and 2 nieces, Cheryl Keller (Steve) of Blowing Rock NC and Tricia Wilburn of Batesburg SC and many lifelong friends including Judy and Harry Johnston of Low Gap NC.

Laura was born in Roanoke, Virginia but spent most of her life in Charlotte, NC.  She attended Sharon Junior High School and East Mecklenburg High School and maintains wonderful friends, the Grits Girls and many others, from that time.  She and Hoytt were high school sweethearts at East Meck and were married shortly after graduation in 1959. After some time in Germany, Laura and Hoytt settled in Charlotte and started their family.  Laura was a communications consultant for AT&T for over 25 years and was active in the school's and communities where they lived.  She and the Grits Girls traveled frequently from NY to CA and many places in between and made wonderful memories.  Laura was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Uptown Charlotte.  She was a loyal member of the First Church Choir and served as Chairman of the Children's Development Center at FUMC. She was also active in leadership committees including the Staff Parish Relations Committee. Laura was the wedding coordinator for many, many couples married at First Church and viewed that as a calling to help revitalize the church by attracting young adults starting new families.  Laura was an enthusiastic basketball fan, loved ACC basketball and her UNC Tarheels, had season tickets to the Charlotte Hornets, and was a passionate fan of Davidson College basketball.

Laura brought great joy to all she encountered.  We were all a little happier for her presence.  She loved her granddaughters more than anything and brought so much love and joy, setting an example of all that is most important in life. We enjoyed family beach trips, mountain trips (especially to Low Gap with the Johnstons/Cleghorns), and wonderful holidays together in NC, Colorado, Virginia, and California. She and Hoytt were married for 63 years and were rarely seen apart and also have demonstrated the values we all aspire to achieve.

We will not have a service at this time, but a small family gathering to celebrate Laura's life will be coordinated at a later date.  Rather than a donation/gift, a recommended tribute to Laura is to share her joy and a smile with someone you encounter each day.