Laura W. Blake

Laura Eloise Williams Blake, known to family and close friends as "Ellie" was born on June 2, 1922, in Caroline County, Virginia. She was the youngest of the five children of John Harry and Laura Beasley Williams. Orphaned at an early age, she was raised by her grandmother, Fannie Beasley Martin and her aunt, Lillian Beasley Carter Richardson. She was baptized at St. Stephen’s Baptist Church and attended school in Caroline County until she moved to Washington D.C. as a teenager and completed her education. Ellie began her career with the Census Bureau during World War II and worked for several federal agencies until her retirement from the General Services Administration in 1981. As a young woman, she was popular and vivacious, and enjoyed modeling, catching the eye of her future husband William E. (Bill) Blake at a fashion show. They were married for over 50 years until his death in 2001. Ellie loved traveling, she and Bill traveled extensively throughout the world. Her greatest passion however was shopping and collecting beautiful clothes and accessories. She had an artistic side which allowed her to create beautiful pieces of art work with the stroke of a brush. Following the death of her husband, she moved to the Chevy Chase House Assisted Living apartment where she was the "belle of the lobby". In 2011, she moved with her niece to Kissimmee Florida where she resided at Good Samaritan’s assisted living apartment. Although this required a huge adjustment, she adapted well to her new surroundings. She was fascinated with the blue sky and beautiful clouds and commented on them on every outing. She developed a warm relationship with her primary caregiver, Norma Duncan, who provided quality companionship and assistance. Ellie is survived by nieces Brenda Lockley, Gwendolyn(Adolph)Simmons, Elsie Parker, Joyce Simmons and Barbara Thweatt; nephews Louis, Ronald, Roger and Scott Williams.; great nieces and nephews Brian Lockley, Jacqueline (John) Dorsey, Paulette (Russell) Chew, Paula Williams, Patrick(Paula) and Beale Williams, Darryl(Pat) and Gary (Vickie) Parker, Machelle Simmons, Robin Simmons, Lisa (Tony)Long and Jeffrey Williams, Bryan(Lia) Simmons and Pat(Ken) Peeples; cousins Cecil B. Carter (Sonja), Lillian Sizer and Clara B. Stafford; and god-children Alan Boyd(Karla) and Lori Patton. Ellie always brought laughter, life, and grace to the party and she will be missed.

Laura W. Blake

June 2, 1922 - July 5, 2013