Laura Anne Bushong

Laura Anne Bushong, age 56, passed away peacefully on January 27th, 2026, at the Duke Hospice House, held in the love of her closest friends, after a brave and unwavering fight with cancer. Born on August 9, 1969, in Statesville, North Carolina, Laura was the cherished daughter of Nancy Karen Honeycutt and Lowell Bauman Bushong. She grew up in Wilkesboro, where her curiosity, kindness, and quick wit began to shine early. She later graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a Master of Science in Jurisprudence, Health, and Hospital Law from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Laura recently retired from a long and meaningful career at Duke University Health System where she served as Director of Duke Health Compliance. She was known not only for her intelligence and integrity but for the way she made people feel seen, supported and valued.

She leaves behind her beloved basset hounds, Ruby and Wallie; her cousins Brenda Stone, Linda Dillard, Pamela Sellars, Gail Pallotta, Laurie Pallotta Litrio, Linda Rowland, Kay Nims, Susanna, Jennifer and Robert Horne and Kelly Ferri; and a wide circle of friends who became family. To many children she was lovingly known as “Yaya,” a name that she chose, and it captured her playful spirit and boundless affections.

Laura filled her days with crocheting, pulling for her beloved TarHeel basketball team, traveling with friends, laughing over long dinners, and embracing new experiences with an open heart. In recent years she found deep meaning in her study of Judaism and joyfully embraced her new spiritual home.

In lieu of flowers, the family/friends request that donations be made to one of the following charities:

Carolina Basset Hound Rescue (cbhr.com)

Judea Reform Congregation(judeareform.org)

Duke Hock Family Pavilion (givetodukeathome.org) * Select Hospice or Mail to 12 Moore Dr. Su

If you would like to send a note of your fondest memory or story about Laura, these will be read at Shiva / Celebration of Life. Email: MemoriesOfLauraBushong@gmail.com

Funeral

Time: 2:00 pm, Thursday, January 29, 2026

Location: Judea Reform Congregation

1933 W. Cornwallis Road

Durham, NC 27705

Livestream Link: https://www.judeareform.org/livestream.html

Graveside Burial

Time: 3:30 pm, Thursday, January 29, 2026

Location: Judea Reform Congregation Cemetery

2560 Jones Ferry Road

Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Celebration of Life / Shiva

Time: 6:30-8:30pm, Thursday, January 29, 2026

Location: Home of Pam Barth

500 Whitehall Circle

Durham, NC 27713

Phone: 919-491-2015

Parking: On the street or in the clubhouse parking lot