Neomia Laird

Neomia Sue Laird, 80, of Brazoria, Texas, passed on December 12, 2020.

Sue was born to the late Edward Lynne, Sr. and Frances Lapham, on July 14, 1940, in Houston, Texas. Sue graduated from Blinn Junior College with an Associates in Arts Degree and later from the Theological Institute of Texas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. She married Alvin Laird in 1965, and they lived together in Brazoria, Texas at the home they built together.

Sue was first and foremost a loving and devoted wife to her husband, a mother, and homemaker. She had been told that she would never “amount to a hill of beans,” but her life was a perfect contradiction of that in all that she accomplished. When she set her mind to something there wasn’t much that could stop her. She was creative and artistic, from being a beautician to making gorgeous and delicious cakes and even learning to paint. She could find a solution to just about any problem. Always eager to serve, she brought her special brand of excellence in all that she did, even traveling to Africa on two occasions to work with missionaries Ralph and Shirley Hagemeier.

She was very proud to have gone back to school (remotely) to get her bachelor’s degree, later teaching kindergarten at the Columbia Christian Academy. She was an educator at heart, always wanting to share her experience and knowledge with everyone.

Sue was an active member of Gulf Coast Christian Center, managing the church’s Food Services program for many years where she hosted numerous lunches, banquets, and other special events.

Sue is survived by her husband of 55 years, Alvin Laird, of Brazoria, TX; her three children, Tracy Leavell and her husband, Mark, of Spring, TX, Lisa Orr and her husband, Clayton, of Sweeny, TX, and Sam Laird and his husband, Quinton, of The Colony, TX; her sister-in-law, Nancy Lapham, of Cypress, TX; her brother, Errol Lapham and his wife, Lesli, of Wyomissing, PA; and her sister, Lynda Lapham Truitt and her husband, Percy, of West Columbia, TX. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Chelsea Crowson and her husband, David, Colton Orr, Brittany Orr, Caleb Leavell and his wife, Maggie, Christian Orr, Caden Leavell, Canaan Orr, and her 5 great-grandchildren, Treasure, Levi, Asher, Ariana, and JJ. She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward Lynne, Sr. and Frances Lapham; her mother-in-law, Nora Williams Laird; her brother, Edward Lynne Lapham, Jr.; her sister, Eva Annette Lapham Frisbie; her husband, Al; and her great-granddaughter, Lucy Kate Leavell.

She loved keeping in touch with everyone she knew and had an amazing ability to sense where people needed help the most.

She loved her family and friends deeply and was never shy to say it or show it. All of us never had any doubt that we were loved. That is her legacy that we will always cherish.

Visitation will be held Saturday, December 19, 2020 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at C. T. Baker & Sons Funeral Home in West Columbia.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 am, Monday, December 21, 2020 at the Gulf Coast Christian Center. Burial will follow at 2:30 pm at Perry Cemetery in Houston. Serving as pallbearers will be Caleb Leavell, Christian Orr, Caden Leavell, Canaan Orr, David Crowson, Mark Leavell, Clayton Orr, and Quinton Roberts. Honorary pallbearer will be Colton Orr.