Laura Ann Angelo

March 21, 1973 – April 1, 2025

Laura Ann Booth Angelo, was born on March 21, 1973 in New York City, New York to William Edward Booth, Jr. of Vicksburg Mississippi and Pamela Wilkinson of Chicago, Illinois, and died unexpectedly at her home in Edwards, Mississippi, peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

At age 52, Laura was an adored wife, loving mother, caring friend, and cancer survivor, and she had lived a more courageous life - full of faith, hope, love, and encounters of greatness - than most of us only get to admire from afar, if we are lucky. Laura’s only feature greater than that endless, ginormous smile and her looong legs was her loving and tender heart. Those who were lucky enough to admire it up close knew it and were made better people for it.

When Laura was one year old, her family moved to Mississippi. She grew up in Jackson leaving her special mark on school friends and teachers at First Presbyterian School and Jackson Prep. Laura was an excellent student athlete; as an accomplished swimmer she broke state records, earned multiple awards and accolades, including a full scholarship to attend and swim at the University of Florida. While at the University of Florida she was a 17-time Florida All-American and US National Team swimmer. Swimming for the Gators, Laura was a part of a Florida NCAA Championship winning team breaking the American record for the 400 free relay. At the 1993 World University Games, Laura won a pair of gold medals as a part of the 400 free and medley relays, all while earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education. Upon moving back home after college, Laura became aquatics director at the Courthouse in Jackson, then taught elementary school and Sciences at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Bay St. Louis, St. Richard’s Catholic School in Jackson, and Luther Branson Elementary School in Canton. During this time Laura also courageously fought and won her battle with leukemia.

Laura was extremely proud of her family and felt it was the most important part of her life. She loved her sons with the passion of a mother’s heart and shared the best of her loving care with her boys. In the summer of 2020, although they had known each other indirectly for years, Laura “met” the love of her life, Jay Angelo, and they were married in August 2024. She loved being an Angelo. She immediately became a wonderful stepmother to Jay’s daughters. In the too-short time they had together, Laura and Jay lived life to the fullest. In addition to her love for swimming, Laura loved anything to do with the outdoors, hiking, camping, kayaking, and fishing. No adventure was too small for Laura. Still teaching and desiring one of these new adventures, Laura was encouraged by Jay to finally pursue nursing. She excelled here too, becoming president and valedictorian of her class, and earning her BSN in twelve months in the Accelerated BSN Nursing program at UMMC. She was an excellent nurse, and her care and attention will be deeply missed by her coworkers and patients.

At her essence, Laura lived with hope and perseverance, tender faith and courage and was a fighter. She was a caregiver and teacher at heart, eternally responsive to the needs of others. Her Catholic faith no doubt inspired a life of loving with no stipulations or judgement. Laura was committed to the sanctity of life and her faith carried her in her times of struggle, times of joy, times of triumph, and in all of her relationships. She shared and witnessed this life of faith with great humility.

She is survived by her husband, Jay Angelo; sons, Joseph Uecker (Emily) of Biloxi, and Stephan Uecker of Biloxi; father of Joseph and Stephan, David Uecker of Biloxi; stepdaughter, Maddie Angelo, of Madison; father, Will Booth, and brother, Ted Booth both of Madison; as well as numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and her dog, Elvis.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Pamela; stepdaughter, Marlee Angelo; and her cherished cats, Bernie and Leo.

Visitation will be held Monday, April 7th, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison, Mississippi, at 10 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11a.m. Interment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg, Mississippi, at 3 p.m. Contact Parkway Funeral Home 601-853-7696 for more information.

We thank everyone who has prayed for, supported, and loved Laura and her family in her life and in her death. We pray for the repose of her soul and may her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

In Lieu of Flowers the family has requested donations be made to ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8