Laura Susan Hardy Earp
March 19, 1959 ~ May 16, 2026
Born in: Nash County, NC
Resided in: Rocky Mount, NC
Rocky Mount – Laura Susan Hardy Earp, age 67, passed away at her home on Saturday, May 16, 2026, following an extended illness. Born in Nash County, NC on March 19, 1959, she was the daughter of the late Robert “Boot” Keeling Hardy, Sr. and Elizabeth Anne Cross Hardy.
Following her graduation from Rocky Mount Senior High School, Laura attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She and David married just after her graduation and immediately relocated to Lubbock, Texas, and then to Sacramento, California, while he served in the military. Upon their return to Rocky Mount, Laura began her distinguished career as a certified public accountant, which culminated in her owning her own accounting practice. She was deeply respected in her professional circles and valued her relationships with her many loyal clients. Laura was also active in community service and served on the Board of the Directors of the YWCA, the Board of Trustees for Nash General Hospital—including two years as Chairperson—and in many leadership roles at her church Englewood United Methodist Church, where she was a faithful member for over thirty-five years. Following her retirement, Laura volunteered with Meals on Wheels and became very active in the Daughters of the American Revolution. She served as a leader of her local D.A.R. chapter and later as State Registrar.
Throughout her life, Laura was devoted to her family above all else, and cherished time with those she loved most. She meticulously planned family vacations, hosted holiday celebrations, and was always available to her loved ones, no matter how pressing her professional and volunteer obligations. She enjoyed sewing and genealogical research, and loved animals, especially her dogs. A devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and dear friend to many, Laura will be deeply missed and never forgotten.
Laura is survived by her husband of nearly forty-five years, David Earp; her daughter Michelle Earp Beatty and her husband, Locke, of Charlotte; her three grandchildren, George, Isla, and James Beatty, of Charlotte; her brother, Robert Keeling Hardy, Jr. of Rocky Mount; and numerous relatives, siblings-in-law, and dearest friends.
A Celebration of Life Service to celebrate Laura’s life will be held on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Sanctuary of Englewood United Methodist Church, 300 S Circle Dr, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 with Rev. Nathan Wittman officiating. Visitation with the family will be following the service in the Englewood United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.
Memorials may be made in Laura’s memory to Englewood United Methodist Church, 300 Circle Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.
Services
Celebration of Life: Sunday, May 24, 2026 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Englewood United Methodist Church
300 S. Circle Drive
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 443-2926
Visitation: Sunday, May 24, 2026 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm
Englewood United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
300 S. Circle Drive
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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Charities
The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Laura Susan Hardy Earp 's name.
Englewood United Methodist Church
PO Box 7128
Rocky Mount,
NC
27804
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
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David,
We are so very sorry for your loss! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!
David my heart is very heavy for you and your family!
So sorry to hear of Laura’s passing.
David I am very sorry to hear of Laura’s passing. My prayers will be with you during the days to come.
So very sorry to hear about Laura. She was so very sweet with a big beautiful smile. Our prayers are with you.
David, I am so sorry to hear of Laura’s passing. You and your family are in my prayers. May you all be held by the Peace of Christ.
Clyde Denny
David, I am so sad to hear about Laura’s passing. I have lost a friend with whom I shared many childhood memories. She was smart and kind. I remember her beautiful long blonde hair, and her love for dance. In my mind she was a ballerina. I remember sitting in her driveway waiting for her to come out so we could drive all over Rocky Mount on a weekend night. If you knew Laura you knew her mom. Mrs Hardy always wanted what was best for us, and often shared her words of wisdom.
David, I pray you and your family will feel God’s presence during this time. May my friend’s memory be eternal.
Susan Collie Zourzoukis
My condolences to the family of Laura, one of my oldest friends. She was the first one of my fellow classmates to introduce herself to me my first day in second grade after we had just moved to Rocky Mount from Virginia. Laura and I were in many classes together after that first year, continuing all the way through high school, though she was not happy that I opted not to take the 2-hour senior math class that involved trigonometry, physics, and possibly the beginnings of calculus as I was much more interested in foreign language than math. When we were both still at Englewood Elementary, her mother and my mother became close friends, and at some point it was arranged that I would stay at Laura’s house after school since it was so close by until my mother or someone else could come and pick me up to take me home. I moved away from North Carolina shortly after college graduation, but always tried to keep in touch with Laura after that, and also tried to visit her or meet her somewhere if I could when I came to Rocky Mount to visit my family who still lived there. I send my deepest condolences to all of you.
David, though Laura’s presence will be missed, her light will continue to shine in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Wishing you peace and gentle days ahead. You are in our thoughts and prayers! Love, Jody and Dana
David and Michelle,
I am so very sorry for your loss. May your memories bring you peace. I love you and I am thinking of you.
Beverly
A truly beautiful person, now making Heaven brighter.
Mark R
Blessings from a DAR Sister,
She was an inspiration for a lot of people.
My sincere condolences in the loss of Laura. It is so incredibly sad to lose a loved one when you expect to grow old together.
Laura was so helpful with so many Daughters of the Revolution find their ancestry . So kind , so generous!
She has been missed?
David, you know Mark and I are praying for you and Michelle. We will miss Laura and hold so many memories of our many years living side by side. I remember sitting in the grass of our shared yard, pulling weeds and talking endlessly, facing our sewing machines across from each other and sharing patterns as well as life’s ups and downs, driving the van full of brownie scouts to campsites far and wide, listening to piano recitals, watching Michelle and Lauren’s friendship grow from kindergarten to adulthood, sharing countless meals on both back decks, growing our faiths together in Sunday school and church at EUMC, and so many more memories. Laura was the smartest, funniest, wisest, most humble, warm hearted friend I could ever have. I count myself blessed to have had such a friend. I will miss her until I see her again. “What a day of rejoicing that will be!”
Cheryle and I will always cherish our friendship of almost 50 years with you and Laura. Fond memories of air shows, beach trip, dinners at Amedeo’s, etc. will always remain with us as we remember Laura. Her smile, dry wit, sense of humor and fierce love of family will remain in our memory. She left footprints in our hearts. With love and deepest sympathy to you, Michelle and family.
Joe and Cheryle Prater
I am heartbroken for you. I thought so much of Laura…she was such a loving person, always so kind & had such a sweet spirit. Love and prayers to you all as you journey through these tough days and find your way to navigate through life without her.
Laura’s friendship of 67 years was a lesson in what is right and good. Even as a young child she displayed an intellectual and emotional maturity beyond her years and never compromised who she was at her core. I thought she was the smartest and wisest person in the world. Her maturity and integrity as a teenager allowed us many privileges I might not otherwise have been awarded, like overnight unchaperoned trips to the beach. I am grateful for her wise counsel, when sought, in navigating life’s challenges, and for her unwavering support during times of celebration and times of loss. I am especially grateful for our friendship during these most recent years that progressively became more bittersweet as her health declined. But what I am most grateful for is that in 1959 our mothers introduced us as they walked together pushing us in baby carriages through Sunset Park, starting a friendship that has been one of the greatest blessings in my life.
“True friends are never apart, maybe in distance, but never in heart”