Laura Gray Woodall

Laura Gray Somerville Woodall, 43, of Davidson, NC passed away February 28, 2015. Born May 5, 1971, she was the second daughter of the late William H. Somerville and Jane B. Somerville of Laurinburg, NC. Laura loved tennis growing up and played for Scotland High School (class of 1988) and Queens College in Charlotte, NC. She served as secretary and vice president of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and graduated in 1992 from Queens with a Batchelor of Arts in sociology with a minor in English. Laura worked as a surgery coordinator for University Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in Charlotte prior to the birth of her daughters, Amelia and Abigail. Her true calling in life was to be a mom, a passion at which she excelled, as anyone who knew her will attest. After her 2006 diagnosis of ALS, Laura assembled a team of moms and friends - "Laura's League" - and raised over $100,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Stride n' Ride, for which she was awarded Guest of Honor at the MDA's Black & Blue Gala. In 2008 Laura encouraged a group of friends to create A Giving Spirit Foundation to provide financial support to families of other mothers experiencing adversity in the face of unforeseen health challenges and to support ALS research initiatives. To her family, friends, and the greater community, Laura will be remembered as the embodiment of a giving spirit. She is survived by her husband of 19 years, John M. Woodall; daughters Amelia G. Woodall and Abigail M. Woodall; mother, Jane B. Somerville; and sister, Lilla S. Marhefka. A private memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Chapel in Charlotte. The family will receive friends at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday March 7 at Davidson College Presbyterian Church Congregation House, 208 Concord Road, Davidson, NC. Memorial donations may be directed to A Giving Spirit Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, P.O. Box 815, Davidson, NC 28036. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Huntersville, NC is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences and share memories with the family at www.raymerfh.com.