Laura Ann Coleman Pearce of Hayes, died Thursday, April 14, 2011, with her family by her side at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester.

Laura was born Jan. 24, 1965 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and spent time growing up in Puerto Rico, Maryland and Mississippi before settling in Virginia.

Laura graduated in 1995 from Christopher Newport University, where she met her husband Jon. Her fondness of children led to a career in education, where she taught at Petsworth Elementary School, Gloucester, until 2007.

She enjoyed spending time with her friends, movies and Facebook. Laura will be remembered for her great love of her family, devotion to her many pets, especially her poodle "Oliver," her generosity and her gentle sense of humor.

She is survived by her husband, Jon Glen Pearce; parents, William and Virginia Coleman; brothers, William Coleman Jr. and wife Elyssa, Jeffrey Coleman and wife Colleen and their two children, Aidan and Ian, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services conducted by Pastor David Price were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hogg Funeral Home in Gloucester Point. Interment followed in Rosewell Memorial Garden Cemetery. The family received friends on Monday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Laura are welcome and may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 870 Greenbrier Circle, Greenbrier Tower II, Suite 404, Norfolk, Va. 23320 or National Kidney Foundation, 1742 East Parham Road, Richmond, Va. 23228-2202.

Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 941, Gloucester Point, Va. 23062.