Laura Ann Jernigan, age 73, passed away peacefully August 2, 2021. She was originally from Pennsylvania but has called East Tennessee home for more than 35 years. Her late husband Richard Jernigan III introduced her to the area; it was love at first sight.
Laura spent more than a decade working at the Emory Valley Center in Oak Ridge. She started working directly one-on-one with clients, and by the time she left, she was responsible for managing 10 houses. She played an integral part in forming, building, and participating in the Direct Support Professionals Association of East Tennessee, D-SPAT for short.
She also spent a decade with the Salvation Army helping to support and build on their mission. During the times she wasn’t employed, she was caring for others.
She loved life, and her contribution to this area has been of great service, care, and love in more ways than can be listed. If you knew her, then you know just how special she was.
She will be greatly missed by her two children Michelle Phillips (Steven) of Clinton, Tennessee, and Charlie Leseman (Melissa) of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, as well as nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild and two surviving siblings. Along with any one of you who knew her.
There will be two celebrations of her life because she had two places she called home.
The first will be at a family cabin in Pennsylvania on September 5.
The second will be at Norris Dam State Park in June of 2022.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that you donate to Laura’s GoFundMe page titled: Laura’s Fund for Final Expenses. If you don’t want to donate that way, the mailing address is 119 Mile Miller Lane, Clinton, TN 37716.
You can read the obituary here: Obituary | Laura Ann Jernigan of Clinton, Tennessee | Holley-Gamble Funeral Home (holleygamble.com).
