Jodi Hall and Lauren Jones started this book club in memory of our beloved friend, Laura Beth Oberkircher, who fought a courageous battle against inflammatory breast cancer until her death on Wednesday morning, June 22, 2005. Lauren was a groomsman in Laura's wedding to Tyrone Everett (Lauren's dear friend since high school) on December 30, 1995.

Lauren was immediately impressed with Laura, as was Jodi Hall, who had gone to graduate school with Tyrone. She "kept it real" at all times and was a lovely and steadfast friend, not only to Lauren but to her three children, who immediately adopted her as their "Aunt Laura." She was a very warm, sincere, lively person with boundless energy, and infinite time for her friends and family.

When Tyrone's brother Michael was murdered by his wife in 2000, it was Laura who initiated the process of gaining full custody of Michael's daughter Michelle. Laura gladly welcomed Tyrone's son Chandler, from his first marriage, into their home full time. Chandler loves his mother, but says that Laura was his Mommy. Only through resemblance and knowing the family would you be able to tell which of the three Everett children was Laura's birth child. Her daughter, Zoe Oberkircher Everett, is at seven, a delightful pistol who is so much like Laura!

Laura was as tireless in her professional life as she was at home and with friends. As executive director of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies of Wake County North Carolina, Laura made sure her staff always got paid, even if she did not. She successfully wrote grants to get that program funded above and beyond what it was originally supposed to get.

Laura loved her girlfriends, and I was so honored to be included in that group. We had great times, even after she became ill.

We lost a truly phenomenal woman on June 22. Jodi, who was her best friend, and Lauren did not want to just mourn her passing. We wanted to celebrate her life by gathering together a group of positive minded, progressive thinking women who would not sink into pettiness and all the other "fun" things some women's groups can get caught up in. So we decided to start this book club in Laura's memory. We don't sit around crying about our loss; rather, we carry on her legacy of joy and fun and intelligent conversation each time we gather.

Our first book was written by Lauren Jones, whose pen name is Lauren Sanders-Jones. Laura was a tireless cheerleader for Lauren as she strove to publish REASONABLE JOY. We felt that this book was the perfect way to begin our gatherings!

Sounds like Laura O was a wonderful person. Do you plan to walk in Race for the Cure or Relay for Life in her name? Keep up the good works for Laura. (I hope to find and read Lauren's book.)

-Mo