Laura Ashley Burckel Peterson

Laura Ashley Burckel Peterson, 27, passed into the presence of her Heavenly Father on January 3, 2014 after giving birth to her beautiful daughter, Mary Margaret. Laura loved being married to her loving, devoted husband Mark Peterson. Laura was a third year medical student at LSU in New Orleans with a desire to practice in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. She was a dedicated, passionate student and was the current President of the American Medical Association for her medical class. Laura graduated magna cum laude in 2009 from LSU in Biological Sciences. While at LSU, Laura was actively involved in the Tri-Delta Sorority working in Philanthropy for St. Jude's Hospital and was elected Sorority President in 2008. She loved her sorority sisters, many served in her wedding and all remain life-long friends. She is a proud LSU Tiger. Laura graduated from Hamilton Christian Academy where the dream of becoming a physician was birthed. She was class valedictorian and loved her classmates who were all childhood friends. Mark and Laura attend Christ the King Church in Covington and Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles. Those left to cherish her beautiful, godly life are her wonderful husband, Mark and her beautiful daughter Mary Margaret; her parents Daryl and Mary Burckel, loving sisters Kelly Burckel Calloway (Ryan) and Natalie all of Lake Charles; In-laws Tyler and Teri Peterson; brothers Scott (Kara), James, all of Lake Charles and his sister Vera Grill (Mike) of Pennsylvania; One niece; Lillian and three nephews; Cohen, Preston, and Brendan; Numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Grandparents Joseph (Frances) Burckel; Rosemary Robert all of New Orleans, James (Pete) Peterson of Westlake, and Velma Morgan of Lake Charles. Laura was preceded in death by grandparents Harold Robert of New Orleans, Mary Peterson of Westlake, and Norman Morgan of Lake Charles. Funeral services for Laura will be held at 10:00AM on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at Trinity Baptist Church, officiated by Rev Richard McClain and Rev Lamar Huffman. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 9:00PM on Tuesday in the chapel at Johnson Funeral Home and will continue in the church on Wednesday from 8:00 AM until the time of services. The family wishes to extend their thanks to the physicians and staff of East Jefferson Hospital for the compassionate, exemplary medical care extended to Laura. We also want to thank Alice Babst Prestia, MD for being a loving mentor to Laura. We also want to thank Loren Rhor, MD for his influence and example in Laura's life. Special thanks to Margaret and Brian Scott and Lori and Randy Gervais for taking Laura and Mark under their wing when they moved to New Orleans. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Mary Margaret Peterson Educational Trust Fund at JD Bank Trust Department 337-824-3424 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Events/Tribute?pg=fund&fr_id=1341&pxfid=48379.