Laura S. Morgan Valentine

Mrs. Laura S. Morgan Valentine, 78, died Thursday, June 27, 2024, at her home in Oxford, MS. The funeral will be Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Fr. Mark Shoffner officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 9:30 A.M.

Laura was born on March 20, 1946, in Oxford, MS, to the late Ida Belle Wallace Morgan and Curtis Ellzey Morgan. She attended University High School, graduating in 1963, the final class before the school became known as Oxford High School. Continuing her education at The University of Mississippi, Laura earned her degree in Speech Language Pathology. While at Ole Miss, she pledged Kappa Delta Sorority, and was later overjoyed when her daughters followed in her footsteps. While Laura was a steadfast military wife to her husband John and was delighted with each move this lifestyle brought, Laura continued to build her career in many different settings, primarily in schools. During this time, she worked diligently to earn her Master’s Degree, furthering her education and passion in her field of work. Their military lifestyle allowed the family to live all over the United States, and over seas in Iceland, Germany, and England. Through it all, Laura was the pillar of her family, making each place they moved feel like home. She welcomed all of her daughters’ friends into their home wherever they lived and it was a favorite hangout for everyone. Her love of travel was constantly being nourished, and as the required travel faded, she started to plan beautiful vacations on river cruises and trips all across Europe and most recently, Alaska. She and John were members of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Oxford.

Laura was a caring and nurturing person. While raising her daughters, she was careful to instill in them a sense of self-confidence, strength, and independence. She modeled perfectly how to lead with integrity and grace, and how to unapologetically go after your dreams and goals. They watched as Laura balanced her successful career and was a present and loving wife and mother. She was always in search of her next adventure, spending time living between the U.S. and England. Her love for her five grandchildren knew no bounds. Whether it was a drive to Atlanta or flight to England, Laura let nothing get in the way of spending time with them. Her life was filled with joy, love, and adventure. Each day, she took time to ponder her many blessings while sipping coffee on her back porch, watching birds in a quiet solitude that filled her with peace.

Laura is survived by her husband of 53 years, John Valentine of Oxford, MS; daughters, Kathryn Valentine Eidt, of St. Ives, England and Anna Valentine Mitchell and her husband, Ben, of Atlanta, GA; and five beloved grandchildren, Madalena Eidt, Ann Morgan Eidt, Joseph Eidt, Thomas Eidt, and Marion Mitchell. In addition to her parents, Laura was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Ann Morgan King.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Laura’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 (click here) or the Oxford Animal Resource Center, 413 McElroy Dr, Oxford, MS 38655 (click here).