Laura Lee Potter Herndon

Laura Lee Potter Herndon, 72, passed away on October 18, 2013 at Westminster Oaks in Tallahassee, Florida. She was born on March 11, 1941 in St. Augustine, FL to David Wilfred and Alberta Solana Potter. Laura Lee grew up in Tallahassee where she attended Leon High School graduating in 1959 and then went on to earn her BS in Chemistry from Florida State University in 1964.

After graduating from college, Laura Lee moved to Berkeley, California where she worked in a biochemistry lab. During her time in California, she met Roy Clifford Herndon whom she married in 1967 in West Palm Beach, Florida. They were married for 46 years, most of which were spent in Tallahassee. For many years, Laura Lee worked as a substitute teacher at Maclay School and later worked as an Academic Advisor in the College of Education at Florida State University. Laura Lee had many interests, but had an exceptional talent for taking photographs, especially of children and families, and her pictures are displayed in households around the world. Her other activities included reading, listening to music, writing letters, bird watching, traveling, making unusual collections and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Laura Lee is survived by husband Roy, her children Laura Alice Herndon (Tom Strasser) of Warren, NJ and Donald Herndon of Tampa; grandchildren Alex and Ben Strasser; sister Mary Ann (George) Hensarling of Tallahassee and nephews David, Matt and Ben Hensarling.

A visitation will be held at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 700 Timberlane Road from 6-8pm, Friday, October 25th. Graveside services will be held at Roselawn Cemetery at 11am on Saturday, October 26th with a memorial luncheon immediately following at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 700 Timberlane Road.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Francis Wildlife Association.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Tallahassee Democrat on Oct. 20, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Laura Herndon

26 Entries

Norbert Barszczewski

October 28, 2013

You meet someone, and they change your life forever. That's Mrs. Herndon I will always remember. Thank you for being part of my life journey. You will be missed greatly by many people.

October 25, 2013

I will always remember how graciously Laura welcomed me into the family and will always remember our only visit to Tallahassee. I wish I could have had many more visits with her, as she was the kind of person that you feel an instant connection with. My heartfelt thoughts are with you, Roy, I can only imagine the hole in your heart made by her loss. Joan Herndon, Oklahoma City, Ok.

October 25, 2013

We will surely miss you. So many times we were together over the years, through it all. No one could ask for a better friend and no words of tribute can be enough. Our love, especially to your wonderful family. The Karols

Heidi Palmquist

October 25, 2013

I remember many a days playing as a child with the Herndon children. Mrs. Herndon's photography was always around the house and her eye was incredible, she always captured positive images. Prayers go out to her family, she will be missed.

Stephen Mozier

October 25, 2013

One of the greatest joys of my career has been working with Laura. She taught me all she learned and was the greatest meet. I am glad we had the opportunity to meet again and correspond in the months before her passing. Condolences to the family.

October 24, 2013

What a joy to have known Laura! A Sister in PEO and a Dear Friend in life. Looked forward to her FB comments. How she LOVED her family! You will be missed. XOXOXOX
HELEN (LuLu) Hildebrand

Louise Crook

October 24, 2013

"Life is too short!" Laura and I shared,as neighbors and friends,our children's growing-up years with all the usual concerns; she would remind me "life is too short" (to worry about the details...) How true and, now, how sadly true... I've missed you, Laura, the past 10 years I've been away from Tallahassee, but now I miss you even more!

October 23, 2013

My condolences to the Herndon family. When I think of Laura, I think of the wonderful memories of our childhood on Barbara St. & Westridge Dr. When I lost my husband & later on my daughter, she wrote me the most loving and endearing letters that I will always treasure. A very special lady and a friend.
Margaret Williams

Monika Bedard

October 23, 2013

Laura was an angel on earth, humble as she was she hid her wings. She was a cheerful student in German School in Tallahassee, and will be missed by all of us.

Laura, rest in peace,
Monika

Hunter Barnett

October 23, 2013

(I saw this on a poster once...) "It is still so new and all we see is the empty space, but that is not how it is in the landscape of the heart. There, there is no empty space and she still laughs and grapples with ideas and plans and nods wisely with each of us in turn. We are proud to have known her. We are proud to have called her friend. (I could not help but think of Laura when I read this....)

Kristin Adcock

October 22, 2013

Laura will remain in my memory the devoted mother and treasured friend. I am so sad that her family and the world has lost her.

Alan Davis

October 22, 2013

wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.

Thomas Riggins

October 22, 2013

Laura, R.I.P., I believe in yesterday-rp

Angela McMurtry

October 21, 2013

Laura Herndon remains a part of me, as some of my most cherished memories are the thoughtfulness she brought to the many conversations I had with her when I was child and later as a young adult, growing up on Westminster Drive. Sending love and light.

2012

Gretchen Crook

October 21, 2013

by Laura Lee Herndon

Gretchen Crook

October 21, 2013

She was first my friend's mom, then one of my most valuable mentors and my friend, too.
She could see beauty and then capture that beauty in pictures and in words. This was in the familiar places of home and neighborhood as well as the world of science and literature and their travels afar.
Thank you for bringing me into your family.

Gene Jones

October 21, 2013

Honored to have known Laura and have her in my life while growing up under Dr. Herndon's mentorship. She will be greatly missed.

Hunter Barnett

October 21, 2013

Dr. Herndon, I am so very sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family. Laura was and is a lovely woman and I have always had the greatest admiration and respect for her. I am thinking about you, my dear friend.

Jerilyn Collins

October 20, 2013

So sorry for your loss. I will miss Laura's sunny, interesting, and witty FB comments very much.

Chris Teaf

October 20, 2013

A chemist, a mother, a wife, a superb photographer, all with a droll sense of humor and a love of wildlife. All things to aspire to that were the Laura Herndon we knew. You will be sorely missed, my friend.

Sherry Roux

October 20, 2013

I feel honored to have known you for 60+ years as the sister of my wonderful friend.

June Zent

October 20, 2013

A wonderful lady that will be so missed by all who knew her.

Laura at Nan Currence's birthday

Peggy Adair

October 20, 2013

Laura and Beth Sutton at WO

Peggy Adair

October 20, 2013

At Beth Sutton's 65th Birthday party at WO

Peggy Adair

October 20, 2013

October 19, 2013

Laura, Thank you for opening your home and heart to my family when Laura and Tommy were married. I think very fondly of that time we spent with you and your family in Tallahassee. Joey

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