John Laurens

Dr. John Laurens SPARTANBURG - Dr. John Laurens, 95, died peacefully on Friday, January 3, 2014. He was born in New Haven, CT, on September 14th, 1918, to the late Dorothea and Henry Laurens. He was raised in New Orleans, LA, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Alpha Omega Alpha from Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Laurens served in the Philippines during WWII and retired from the Naval Reserves as a Full Commander. In 1947, Dr. Laurens married Helen Scroggins of Little Rock, AR, where they made their home for the next 26 years. In 1973, he and Helen moved to Flat Rock, NC, which was the site of the Laurens summer home. Known and loved by his family as "Gramps", Dr. Laurens was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, his daughter, Martha Dee, and by his two brothers, Henry and Frank. Dr. Laurens is survived by his children Becky Alkis and her husband Halis of Spartanburg, John Laurens and his wife Melinda of Charleston, Patty Adams and her husband Jeff of Charlotte and son-in-law Ed Taylor and his wife Sydney of Greenville, SC. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Mary-Halis Williams and her husband Ben, Jonathan Alkis and his wife April, Andrew Alkis and his wife Mallory, Henry Laurens, Tucker Laurens, Coles Taylor and his wife Jenna, Molly Taylor, Laurens Threlkeld and her husband Michael, Frank Adams, Rebecca Adams, Eliza Adams and three great grandchildren. A graveside memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Sunday, January 5, 2014 at St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church, Flat Rock, NC, with Father John Morton and Reverend J. Edward Morris officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, the Advent Foundation, or St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church. Condolences may be made to the family at www.JMDunbar.com.