Remembering Parishioner Laura Cameron: A Beloved Example of Lived Faith and Service

This past December, we said goodbye to Laura Cameron, longtime parishioner and active member of St. Mary on the Hill, at the incredible age of 105 years old. “Mama was an incredible woman,” says Anita Wylds, Laura’s daughter.

Laura first moved to Augusta to begin a new job at the Veterans Administration Hospital in 1946. Delighted to find there was a Catholic Church so close by, she soon became a parishioner at St. Mary on the Hill. Noticing there was no music at Sunday Mass and with Christmas around the corner, Laura approached the parish priest at the time, noting the need for music at Christmas. He told her they had no organist, to which she replied that although she was not an organist, she could play. Laura became St. Mary’s first organist and organized a double quartet along with a violinist —just in time for Christmas Mass.

This event led to the establishment of a choir and her becoming its first director. This choir also sang for Masses offered at Oliver General Hospital and Laura also stepped in as a substitute organist when needed for churches and chapels in town.

And so began Laura’s 75 years of dedication to our parish community. She would spend Saturday mornings volunteering in the parish office — all of this while raising her children, working full-time, and volunteering in many areas.

“I remember as a little girl going to St. Mary’s, and all three of us would go with Mama,” Anita says.

Over the decades, Laura was an active member in our community through music, the Sacristan Ministry, wedding coordination, hospice volunteering, parish administration, and so much more. The common thread for all of her work was her steadfast devotion to her faith and dedication to her community.

“My mom was just always a part of church life,” Anita says. “She always attended Mass. She led by example. She was just always involved. That to me was the reason why I practice the faith I do today.”

For 40 years, Laura played the organ for weddings all over Augusta. In 1992, she acted as secretary to the committee for the parish’s fundraising campaign for renovation of the parish hall and church offices. These efforts are only a small portion of the numerous projects she undertook during her long life of service.

Laura faithfully continued her involvement in the parish up until her final days. Even after turning 100, Laura still set up nearly every 5:15 Wednesday Mass and sang in the choir. For the last five years of her life, Laura sewed baptismal bibs, served as sacristan, volunteered as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and lector. She continued to provide music at the St. Mary’s Senior Mass, as well.

While she was involved in many activities over her 75 years as a parishioner in our community, Laura most enjoyed two areas of volunteer work — music and weddings.

“She loved to sing in the choir and never wanted to miss choir practice,” Anita says. “Being a wedding director, became very important to her, too.”

Five years ago, Laura presented a talk on Stewardship Sunday in our parish, where she told our congregation, “We sing a spiritual in the choir that I have adopted as my special prayer: ‘I want to thank You, Lord, for what You’ve done, I want to thank You, Lord, for the times and troubles. Thank You, Lord, for protecting me. Thank You, Jesus, for what You’ve done for me.’”

Laura’s long, beautiful life of service to our parish is an inspiration to all of us. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends who loved her dearly, and by our St. Mary on the Hill parish community.

Laura Cameron’s long, beautiful life of service to our parish is an inspiration to all of us.

Laura Cameron especially enjoyed serving through music.

Laura Cameron became St. Mary’s first organist, which eventually led to the establishment of a choir and her becoming its first director.