Obituaries

Spring 2025

Elizabeth Compton, 99

Elizabeth Lee Miles Compton, born April 8, 1926, passed February 12, 2025.

Elizabeth was born at home to Clyde Lester Miles and Naomi Verlinda (Welsh) Miles in Laurel, Maryland. She welcomed her brother Clyde Jr (“Bobby”) just a year later, and practiced being a big sister for eleven years before greeting sister Maryland.

Elizabeth attended Laurel Elementary School and Laurel High School. She was a member of the Civil Air Patrol, Aircraft Watch. World War II was in progress when she began studying at Women’s Hospital School of Nursing in Baltimore City. She received three Nursing Excellence Awards. There she met the love of her life, J. Richard “Dick” Compton. They both entered the Catholic Church before they married in 1948. They were married for 69 years and raised two sons, Gregory Alan Compton and Peter Miles Compton.

In the beginning, Elizabeth was an Army wife and lived in Colorado, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Japan. It was in Japan where she mastered flower arranging, an art she practiced all her life, and she was a credentialed judge. She was an excellent gardener, and often used her own flowers for beautiful décor, but she could also take ordinary weeds and prairie grasses to make delightful arrangements. She often visited herb shows with her sister Maryland, and these trips made wonderful memories for the two of them.

When the couple returned to Laurel, Elizabeth partnered with Richard as he established his private medical practice on Main Street. She ran the office, working as both nurse and x-ray technician, until the practice grew to the point where they needed an office manager. And so she met her life-long best friend Gayle Snyder. Gayle has remained her constant companion and soulmate. We are so grateful for her presence.

Elizabeth and Richard later organized Compton Associates PC as a respected and successful healthcare provider for NASA Headquarters, the Veterans Administration Central Office, and the National Science Foundation in Washington DC.

Elizabeth enjoyed travels to United Kingdom, France, and Italy, but she always loved Laurel best and loved studying and sharing its history. Her volunteer activities are too numerous to mention. She and generations before her were members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a founding member of the Laurel Historical Society and the co-founder/director of the Laurel Museum. When her passing was announced, the City of Laurel lowered its flag to half-mast. There has, nor ever will be, a finer or more outspoken advocate for Laurel, Maryland.

When the couple moved to the Knollwood retirement community in Washington DC, Elizabeth continued to be very active. She loved oil painting and took classes to improve her skills, and she usually won the art contests. Her flower arrangements were everywhere. She attended lectures, took bus trips to events, and made many, many friends. And she dearly loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Grandmama,” “Grandma,” “Nana” always prepared fun, engaging activities. She was a delightful hostess!

She was preceded in death by her brother Bobby in 2015 and her husband Richard in 2017.

Elizabeth is survived by her sister, Maryland; sister-in-law Sherry Ann Stone Miles; two sons, Gregory (Bonnie) and Peter (Aida); six grandchildren, Erin (Greg), Sarah (Michael), Ashley (Dan), Tyler (Julie), Miles (Brandy), and Laura (Julio); nine great-grandchildren, Olive, Tessa, Charlie, Lyla, Emerson, Avery, Enrique, Ayla, and Noah; many beloved nieces and nephews; and her closest friend, Gayle.

She will be sorely missed.

Memorial donations would be appreciated for the Laurel Historical Society and Museum, 817 Main St, Laurel MD 20707-3429. Mailed condolences may be made to Peter Compton, PO Box 131, Millington MD 21651-0131.

Robert “Pop” Grant, 83

Robert R. (Pop) Grant passed peacefully at home surrounded by family on March 27, 2025. He leaves behind his two children: Robert Darrin Grant and his wife Lena and Lori P. Emmert and her husband James. Loving grandfather of Lauren Russo and her husband Anthony, Zack, R.J. and Sidney Grant and the late James Emmert Jr. and Great-Grandfather of Ryleigh, Waylon and Wade Russo.

Pop loved riding his Harley and was a life member at Laurel Volunteer Fire Department.

Celebration of Life will be held at the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Station 10, 7411 Cherry Lane, Laurel, MD 20707 on Sunday April 13, 2025 from 1 until 4 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Laurel Volunteer Fire Department or the American Legion Post #60: 2 Main St, Laurel, MD 20707

Debbie Elaine Lazur (Poole), 71

Debbie Elaine Lazur, born January 24th, 1954, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded in love by her children on February 6th, 2025. Born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, she graduated from Laurel High School in 1972.

Debbie was always effortlessly cool, a liberated career woman who balanced being an amazing mother and domestic goddess. Debbie is remembered for her courage, warmth, sharp wit and humor, and will be forever missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alan and Patricia Poole, and husband William Lazur.

She is survived by her three children, son Thomas Lazur of Martinsburg, WV, daughter Sarah Lazur and wife Brittany Williamson of Charlottesville, VA, daugh-ter Laura Lazur and husband Zachary Brown of Martinsburg, WV, the light of her life, granddaughter Lily Brown, as well as her three siblings, Robert Poole, Bruce Poole and Vicky Poole and families.

Elizabeth Lockard (Tucker), 82

Elizabeth Alice “Libby” Lockard of Lehigh Acres, Florida, joined our Lord on Friday, January 17, 2025, at Health Park Hospital in Fort Myers, Florida. She was born December 20, 1942, in Prince George’s County, Maryland, the daughter of the late Walter and Irene Tucker.

Elizabeth “Libby” was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Raymond Eugene Lockard; brother Lester Tucker; sister Peg Tyrrell; and grandson Zachary Ryan Souders.

She was a member of The First Baptist Church, well known as a waitress of 45 years from Toucan Taco, formerly known as (Tippy’s Taco House) of Laurel, Maryland. She enjoyed the movies, was an avid visitor of Graceland, the home of Elvis, and doing her crossword. She enjoyed playing bingo and checking in on her family.

Libby is survived by three daughters, Katherine C. Hernandez of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Michelle P. Gross of Cumberland, Maryland, and Kelly R. Lockard of Lehigh Acres, Florida; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and her favorite dog, Sarge. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

Elizabeth Lee “Missy” Quill, 63

Elizabeth Lee “Missy” Quill, born September 8, 1961, passed away on January 30th. A lifelong resident of Laurel, Missy was preceded in death by her parents, John T. and Elizabeth P. Quill, as well as her brothers John T., Jr., Charles P., David M., and Patrick “PQ” Quill.

In her younger years, Missy worked at Laurel Race Course and was also active in the Laurel Board of Trade. She was well known and loved throughout the community and will be fondly remembered.

Because Voices of Laurel is a quarterly publication, obituaries are compiled over the course of each issue every three months. We do our best to include as many published notices as possible, and there is no charge for inclusion. Send obituaries with a photo to laurelhistoryboys@gmail.com.