Anne McLaurin

1948 - 2021

Anne McLaurin
January 4, 1948 - April 22, 2021
Raleigh, North Carolina - Anne Norris McLaurin died at her home in Boylan Heights on April 22, 2021 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. McLaurin, as she was known to her patients, was 73 years old.
Born in Boston, Anne grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio with her four siblings (Cokie, Meg, Bob and Hugh – all surviving). Although Anne was so shy that she had a hard time answering questions in class, she excelled at field hockey.
It is also reported that Anne went skinny dipping in the Ohio River with one of her high school boyfriends – and that was years before the EPA existed!
Anne graduated from Rice University in 1969 as a biology major. She was elected homecoming queen there in the fall of 1968.
After teaching English for a year in Medellin, Columbia, Anne started medical school at the University of Cincinnati in 1970.
There were five women in her first-year class of over 100 students. All five, Anne included, were at the top of their class four years later.
Anne then worked as a resident in family medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital, south of Miami, from 1974–1977.
Upon visiting her sister Meg in Raleigh in the spring of 1978, Anne interviewed for and accepted a position as a family doctor with Wake Health Services. She worked there from 1978-1988, and then with Dr. Dick Wilson started Wilson & McLaurin Family Medical Practice in Apex from 1990-1995.
In 1995, Anne and Dick helped to found SAS Healthcare, and Anne worked there until 2009. Anne finished her career at Alliance Medical Center from 2009-2014.
Anne also served from 1980-1990 as Chief Medical Officer for the Women's Correctional Center on Bragg Street.
After her long career in medicine, Anne leaves innumerable grateful patients in Raleigh and throughout Wake County. And Anne likewise cherished her relationships with all of her patients.
While interviewing for the Wake Health Services position in 1978, Anne met one of the board members, Charles Meeker. When Charles asked whether her husband had accompanied her on the visit to Raleigh, Anne replied, "No, I haven't met him yet."
That, it turns out, was not exactly right. Anne and Charles began dating eight months later. They were married on the side yard of their home in Boylan Heights in May 1980.
Being interested in children for years and having studied well-baby care, Anne was ready to start her family right away. Her daughter Emily was born a year later in 1981, and her son David was born two years after, in 1983.
Anne was proud of her children from the start, providing diligent care from day one. As they grew, she became a regular attendee of their numerous athletic events.
Anne was also proud of her grandchildren – Kathleen (Emily Meeker and Steve Carey) and Wright and Grey (David and Kimberlie Meeker). Anne spent a lot of time with Kathleen and Wright in their early months to get them off to good starts.
Anne was dedicated to serving her community. In addition to her service at the Women's Correctional Center, she was a leader of the Boylan Heights summer camp and volunteered at the Crosby Clinic adjacent to Chavis Heights. Anne served on the Wake County Board of Education from 2007-2011, and was a voice of reason during years when the majority of the Board had lost its way.
Anne attended numerous community events when Charles was Mayor from 2001-2011. For those she met, Anne always had a smile and a kind comment. The accompanying picture was taken when Anne rode in the ceremonial first car during the re-opening of Fayetteville Street in July 2006.
In 2016 and in recognition of her contributions in medicine and community service, Anne was inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame.
In her personal time, Anne was an avid reader and loved to travel. She especially enjoyed visiting Central and South America (Inca Trail in Peru, Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, and a medical mission to Honduras) as well as Europe (Portugal, Greek Islands, Vienna, and Prague). She could be regularly found walking in her neighborhood and throughout Raleigh – in earlier years, with the children of Boylan Heights often in tow, and in later years, with her close companion, her dog Austin.
Anne was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the fall of 2016. She lived at home in Boylan Heights until January 2020, when she moved to Waltonwood on Lake Boone. The staff there was particularly kind to her during the COVID-19 pandemic, when family visits were limited. Her family is also thankful for the many caregivers who looked after her during her illness.
Anne returned home to Boylan Heights two weeks prior to her death, to be cared for by her family and to be visited by friends.
Anne McLaurin lived her life the way she wanted to – caring for her patients, raising her family, and engaging in community and neighborhood life. May Anne's spirit remain with us.
In lieu of flowers, Anne's family asks that a donation be made to the Project Enlightenment Foundation or Alliance Medical Ministry. A celebration of Anne's life will be held at a later date.