Laura Jean was born September 19, 1936 in Opp, Alabama to Lucy Mae and Charlie Lee Northey. She was a graduate of Opp High School and worked many years as a dental assistant for Dr. Charles Burgess. In the mid-1960s, Laura and her husband moved with their two young children to Elba, Alabama where they owned and operated the Big “R” restaurant until the end of 1984. From Elba, Laura lived and worked in Montgomery for Drs. Bern and Kornegay, again in the dental industry, until her retirement in 1999, following the death of her husband of 45 years, L.G. Weeks. In 2001, Laura married the late Billy Hayes King of Elba. She resided in Elba until the death of Mr. King in 2013. Following his death, Laura moved to the Daytona Beach area to live near her son and remained there until 2020 when she located to northern Georgia (Gainesville, then Ellijay) where she led a wonderful, fulfilling life, singing gospel songs in a group she formed, playing piano–a grand being her favorite, and teaching creative writing, producing newsletters and so much more. Those near her loved her and let everyone know how much she taught them to truly live life and not just exist in their senior years. As throughout her life, Laura exuded a smile like no other and was known for her loving kindness and her incredible sense of humor. She was a wonderful Christian woman and the best mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her three children, son Scott Weeks (Stacy) of Murphy, North Carolina, daughter Jan Weeks Murray, Troy, daughter Lori Weeks Swindall (Tony), Troy; sister Juanita Blocker (Jim), Spotsylvania, Virginia; five grandsons, Quinton Weeks, Brandon, FL, Cody Weeks,  Laguna Vista, TX, Jacob Michael Murray, Troy, Bryant Swindall, Troy, and Cody Tarrien, Lake Wylie, South Carolina; three granddaughters, Taylor Weeks Minor, Jupiter, FL, Kimberlin Murray Odom, Enterprise, Chelsea Tarrien, Pinckney, MI; four great-grandchildren, Cheyenne Weeks, Plant City, FL, Weston Weeks, Troy, Matthew Smith, Enterprise, Mackenzie Miner, Jupiter, FL, and Jozlynn Bain, Pinckney, MI. Laura was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Lucy Northey, her husband of 45 years, L.G. Weeks, second husband of over 11 years, Billy Hayes King, her brother Wayne Northey, a sister Judy Northey Weaver, a son-in-law Bill Murray, four grandchildren, Matthew Murray, Lee Murray, Scott Murray, and Anna Kathryn Murray.

Laura’s children would like to extend special appreciation to the staff of Troy Health and Rehabilitation as well as Compassus Hospice for their extraordinary care and compassion toward their mother. Specifically, they are thankful for the care from Barbara, Tracy, Cooks, Zantha, Chelsea, Mary, Carolyn, Karen, Kelli, Amy, and Leeann and the many others we may not have had the opportunity to meet personally.