Laura Ann Leatherwood
December 20, 1946 — September 4, 2023
Franklin
Laura’s life was marked by her love for her family and home. But she also had love for meeting new people and adventure. She was raised on a beautiful farm in foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in East Tennessee with her parents and her brother. Her mother had nine siblings so she was always surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins. She attended the University of Tennessee where she met her greatest love, Daniel. They married, started a family and embarked on a life in the United States Air Force. She loved the military life, traveling and making deep bonds with other Air Force wives while their husbands fought in the Vietnam War. Soon after Daniel returned home, they decided that Birmingham, Alabama would be a good place to begin civilian life. It was there that they raised their two daughters.
Once they were “empty nesters”, Daniel and Laura spent most of their vacations in Italy, making friends and creating a life there. Laura developed a passion for the food, wine and culture of the region. They also loved going to the beaches of 30-A, where they spent many weeks with their children and grandchildren. Through all of these years, Laura was an avid reader, literally never found without a good book.
Laura’s legacy lives on through her daughters, Loren Cline and Erin (Joy) Dunavant and her grandchildren Ava Cline, Emma Cline, Daniel Dunavant and Ruby Dunavant.
Laura was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Daniel Leatherwood; her parents Howard and Luella Earnest as well as her brother Howard Earnest.
A celebration of life will take place at a later date.
