Laura Jean Kendall

KENDALL, Laura JeanA resident of Nashville, TN since 1997, died September 2, 2009 following a brief illness. A Memorial service celebrating her life is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2009 with visitation 1 hour prior to the service, at Glendale Baptist Church in Nashville, TN, where she was an active member for the past 10 years. Laura was born May 8, 1938 in Atlanta, GA to Nanny Ruth and Allison Dewey Kendall. She attended Mercer University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. She then received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and finally, a Master of Sacred Music degree from Northwestern University. Laura taught private voice lessons before becoming an account executive for Hahn, Crane & Associates, an advertising agency in the Chicago area. While there, she performed as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Chorus. In 1978, Laura became Director of Publicity for Word Publishing in Waco, TX and later moved into an editorial role, eventually earning the title of Senior Editor. While in Waco, Laura's love of music led her to form the Waco Civic Chorus, as well as to serve from 1981 to 1985 as Minister of Music at Central Christian Church. In 1988, Laura moved with Word Publishing to Dallas where she performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. She later relocated with the company to Nashville as a division of Thomas Nelson. Shortly after her passing, Thomas Nelson Publishers issued a news release that read in part, "The Christian publishing industry has lost a colleague and friend in the death of Laura Kendall, whose thirty year career in publishing included editing books by bestselling Christian authors, including Max Lucado, Billy Graham, Charles Swindoll, Barbara Johnson and Tony Campolo." Although officially retired in 2005, Laura continued working as a freelance editor and consultant until the week before her death. Laura was often recognized for her professional expertise, but perhaps what most distinguished her were her many personal talents and graces. Known for her beautifully trained soprano voice and her quiet elegance, she was also a spiritual mentor to many, readily sharing her strong faith while fully identifying with the struggler in all of us. Laura was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Ann Kendall Stacy. She is survived by her nieces, Laurie Casner of Nashville, TN, Janine Moissiadis of Cumming, GA; her nephews, Larry Casner of College Park, GA, Tom Stacy of Jacksonville, FL; and her brother-in-law, James Stacy of St. Marys, GA. Memorials may be made to Glendale Baptist Church, 1021 Glendale Ln., Nashville, TN 37204 or to Nashville Adult Literacy Council (NALC), 4805 Park Ave., Nashville, TN 37209. WOODLAWN-ROESCH-PATTON FUNERAL HOME, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204; (615) 383-4754.