Lagretta Olivia Vaughn

Mrs. Lagretta "Laura" O. Vaughn, a lifelong resident of Shaft Bottom in Hemphill, West Virginia, peacefully departed this life on Friday, January 31, 2025 in Beckley, West Virginia.  She was born in Cherokee Hollow in McDowell, West Virginia, on the 6th day of April, 1935 and the daughter of Cleatus and Eleanora Harrison.

After completing her high school education, she began working at the (former Grace} Doctors' Memorial Hospital in Welch, West Virginia.  She retired from Welch Community Hospital after 34 years of employment as a Certified Nursing Assistant.  For many years, before closing, she was a faithful member of the Emmanuel Tabernacle Church in Hemphill, where she served as a Deaconess and was faithful in the service of the Lord.  She brought her children to both Sunday School and Church and through out the years several generations of her children and the neighborhood children began attending.  Due to the closing of the Hemphill Church, she joined the Emmanuel Tabernacle Church in Kimball, West Virginia and was as faithful as her health allowed. 

Her children as Proverbs 31, speaks of being a virtuous woman, "Arise and called her Blessed."  She loved the Lord, reading her Bible and lived a sweet, peaceful life.  She was a genuine "people person," and welcomed others with both open arms and a warm smile. In her neighborhood, she was regarded as an "outstanding community leader." 

In addition to her parents, Cleatus and Eleanora, she was preceded in death by her husband, William H. "Pattycake" Vaughn Sr., four of her children:  Cleo, Anthony, David and Jeffery Vaughn; her siblings:  Cleatus, Curtis and Eutoka Harrison, and her best friend, Essie Bell. 

She leaves many treasured memories to her devoted children:  Pamela A. Lane of Statesville, North Carolina, William H. Jr.,  and his wife, Velma Vaughn of Anchorage, Alaska, Michael T. Sr. and his wife, Tricia Vaughn and Linda K. Vaughn both of Hemphill and Keith D. Vaughn of San Francisco City, California; her two remaining siblings, Robert and his wife, Teresa Harrison of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Barbara Gregory of Morgantown, West Virginia; a host of grand and great-grandchildren, many nephews, nieces and cousins; her Church family and special friends:  Alice Whitehead and Doctors David and Charlotte Eells, who took extra special care of her. 

Mrs. Laura Vaughn's Homegoing Celebration Service will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 7, 2025 at St. James Missionary Baptist Church 315 Court Street in Welch, with her Pastor Georgia Smith officiating, assisted by the Reverend George Masterson.  Interment will follow in Restlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery 6605 New Hope Road in Bluewell, West Virginia.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM until the hour of Service.  Family and friends will serve as both pallbearers and flower bearers.  Services entrusted to Gregory-Page Funeral Home in Welch.