Mrs. Laura Smallwood Alston of 1228 Truman Road, Suffolk, departed this life Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004.

She was a native of Lewiston, N.C., and was a daughter of the late John and Effie Watson Smallwood.

She had retired from Hillcrest Nursing Home.

She was a member of Lakeview Missionary Baptist Church , Mae’s Barnes’ Missionary Circle, Lott Carney Foreign Missionary Convention, Sharon Baptist Missionary Association and Allied Bodies, Virginia Baptist State Convention, Isle of Wight Sunday School Convention, Pastor’s Aide Ministry, and Lakeview Sunday School Department.

She is survived by her husband, James Alston; one sister, Esther Byrd; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved family, Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Armstrong.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, in Lakeview Baptist Church, by Dr. John Jones.

The body will be placed in the church at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Crocker Funeral Home Inc. is handling the arrangements.