Billie Reese Laws

Billie Reese Laws, 92, died February 23, 2013, at home while under the care of Coastal Hospice. Born in Wango, Maryland, Mr. Laws was the son of the late Elizabeth Jones Laws and William Laws. His wife of 67 years, Betty Leister Laws, survives. Mr. Laws is also survived by a son, Barry Reese Laws of Snow Hill; two daughters, Rebecca Laws of Hollywood, Florida, and Linda Laws Culp and her husband Jim Culp of Chestertown, Maryland; four grandchildren--Jason Kratzer of Washington, D.C., Jessica Kratzer Phillips and her husband Rick of San Francisco, California, Melanie Culp and her fiancé John Keller of Chestertown, Maryland, and 1st Lt. Stefanie Culp, stationed at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington; and great grandsons Sam and Charlie Phillips of San Francisco, California. Mr. Laws is also survived by two sisters, Grace L. Shorey of Wilmington, Delaware, and Marie L. Lewis of Lutherville, Maryland and numerous nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his brother Milton Laws and his son-in-law James Jackson. Mr. Laws operated the Laws Corporation, a fuel oil business in Snow Hill, from 1946 until 1970. In the 1950s, he developed the Meadowbrook residential subdivision in Snow Hill across from Snow Hill High School. From 1967 to 1986, he owned and operated an Avis Rent-A-Car Franchise at the Salisbury/Wicomico County Airport and at other locations on the Eastern Shore. When he sold the Avis car rental franchise, instead of retiring, he decided to begin tree farming with the purchase of Hickory Ridge Farm on Patey Woods Roads and Scotty Road Farm, both in Worcester County. He became active in tree farming and forestry activities in the State. A member of the Maryland Forest Association, he served on its Board of Governors and as Eastern Region Vice President. In 2006 Mr. Laws was named Maryland Tree Farmer of the Year. Other memberships included the Lower Eastern Shore Tributary Committee, Planning and Zoning Committee for the town of Snow Hill and Worcester County Economic Development Committee. He was also involved with the relocation and restoration of the Mt. Zion one room schoolhouse, which he had attended as a child. In 2001, he was recognized by the Town of Snow Hill for his role in establishing the Holiday Dinner Tour, which raised funds for the community’s children. Mr. Laws belonged to the Sinepuxent AF & AM Masonic Lodge No. 193 for 67 years. He was also an active member of Snow Hill Lions Club, Snow Hill Chamber of Commerce and Bates Memorial United Methodist Church in Snow Hill. A masonic service will be held at Bates Memorial United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 2:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service. The family will receive friends at the church an hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the building fund of Bates Memorial United Methodist Church, c/o Debra Hambrick, 402 S. Morris Street, Snow Hill, Maryland, 21863 or the Sinepuxent Masonic Lodge Billie Laws Scholarship Fund, c/o Charles McWilliams, P.O. Box 25, Snow Hill, Maryland. Arrangements are being handled by Short Funeral Home of Delmar. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.shortfh.com.

Billie Reese Laws

September 30, 1920 - February 23, 2013