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Laura Anne Gilland passed away Friday, November 3, 2023. She was born December 1, 1980. She graduated from Dobyns Bennett High School in Kingsport, TN, and Brevard College in NC. She was employed by Catawba College as Director of Student Conduct / Title IX Coordinator.
Laura is survived by her parents, Linda and Jim Gilland of Kingsport, TN; brother David Gilland (Antje); nephew James Gilland of Luneburg, Germany; Aunt and Uncle Lina and Steve Drinkard of Salisbury, NC. She is also survived by a large extended family.
A celebration of Laura’s life will be held at the Omwake Dearborn Chapel on the Catawba College campus on Friday, November 17, 2023, at 10:00 AM. A reception will follow. Memorial services and interment will be in Kingsport, TN on December 21, 2023, at 2:00 PM at East Lawn Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to: Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary, 220 Grace Church Road, Salisbury, NC 28147 or Holston Home for Children, 404 Holston Drive, Greeneville, TN 37743.
Carolina Cremation is honored to serve the Gilland family. Online condolences may be made at www.carolinacremation.com.
Cody says
I know it’s been almost a year, but I’m just now finding out about this it seems. I was a student at Catawba for a year and a half back in 2017/18. I hated it there. I didn’t like the school, the professors, the classes, anything about it, I didn’t like. Then I met Laura. Her and I had several run-ins, whether I was retrieving some property that was mistakenly took from my dorm room on a “room check” or if I found myself skipping a class (which was not uncommon) I’d wind up in her office, where we would just talk. I felt so out of place at Catawba, but as soon as I sat down in her office, I felt welcomed. I felt as if someone actually cared that I was unhappy with what I was studying, or what I was doing in life. She was the kindest person I met at Catawba. She helped me realize my true desire for a career and pushed me to transition from my psychology degree path, to a career in law enforcement. She was always so kind, at a time that I couldn’t even be kind to myself. I remember asking her about the white spot in her hair, and how she openly talked to me about it. She is one of very few positive memories that I have from Catawba. I’m reaching the five year mark of working for a sheriffs office and I told myself that when I get there, I’m going to go back to Catawba and visit the few people that made the biggest difference in my life, and Laura was at the top of my list. I don’t know if she was a religious woman, but I pray that she knows just how important she was to this out of place, nobody’s, life. She was nothing but kind, understanding, and supportive.
Deputy Cody Hannold
Salisbury NC
7047383847