Laura Edington Wakefield

Laura Ellen Edington Wakefield, age 85, of Atlanta, died peacefully on January 6, 2019, in hospice care near her home.

Laura, the daughter of Judge David Henry Edington and Laura Cornelia Owen Edington, was born in Mobile, AL, raised as a member of Central Presbyterian Church, and in 1955 graduated Southwestern at Memphis (“Rhodes College”) with a B.A. in English. In 1956, she married the love of her life, Francis “Frank” B. Wakefield III, and the two would later explore the eastern half of the country while raising three boys, as Frank, an employee of International Paper Company, was transferred to mills in Moss Point, MS and Ticonderoga, NY, and eventually to the New York office with the family living in New Canaan, CT. Laura’s sense of decorum and beautiful Mobile accent are remembered to this day in all points north.

Their life adventure continued when Laura and Frank retired in 1985 to a beautiful home Laura designed that overlooks The Intracoastal Waterway in Hampstead NC, where they enjoyed Frank’s boat “The Lady Laura” for many a cocktail cruise with friends and family. Still, Laura found time to chair the architectural committee and lead the design effort to establish Holy Trinity Hampstead Episcopal Church. The two eventually moved to Atlanta where they enjoyed their church, their family, and the arts for many years and continued their passion for travel overseas on numerous trips.

Laura is survived by Frank, her loving husband of 62 years; children Frank D. Wakefield and Pam Wakefield, Michael S. Wakefield and Rebecca Mick, and Bryan E. Wakefield; grandchildren Bryan J. Wakefield and Erica Bittner, Michelle and Michael Rushing, Laura and Derek Parsons, Benjamin Wakefield, and Daniel Wakefield; and four great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Robert S. Edington and Patricia Edington and several cousins, nephews and nieces.

Services will be held in Atlanta at Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, Saturday, January 26 at 11 a.m., followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Innocents Episcopal Church.