San Francisco native keeps her heart in Rebekah Children's Services

Living in San Francisco in the same house her entire life, Laurie Prescott says when she returns to the City after travels elsewhere “seeing ‘The City’ while crossing the Bay Bridge, still makes my heart go pitter pat every time.”

Laurie grew up in what was called the “Silver Crest” now called “Bayview” area of San Francisco.  Her father, a former restaurant owner, died in 1955 when she was 12.  She and her mother lived on proceeds from the sale of her father’s restaurant and Social Security, keeping the family home.  She attended Edward Robsen Taylor Elementary School, Portola Jr. High; Lowell High School and transferring to Galileo High School; City College San Francisco from which she has an Associated Arts degree in Liberal Arts; San Francisco State University with a BA in Broadcasting with a minor in Speech.  She pursued, but discontinued her Masters program in elementary education at Simpson University, which is now in Redding.  Growing up in a multi-cultural community that was predominantly Italian, Laurie was surprised how much Italian she understood, when one day a paraprofessional was talking to her mother in.  Laurie had studied Latin for four years in High School and Cantonese for two years at Galileo Adult School.

Prescott’s career began as a teacher at Danville/San Ramon elementary schools.  She was a Librarian and Secretary and retired after 25 years from Sunnyside Elementary School.  Presently, she works three  part-time jobs as a field merchandiser for Proctor & Gamble, A and S Field Service and ATA Retail.

Laurie describes herself as a “joiner”.  One of a few who joined Rebekah Children’s Services’ Legacy Society in 2005, she is a member of 50 organizations and serves in office on 16 of them.  Laurie credits her great aunt, who was a Rebekah living in Iowa, as the reason she became a Rebekah in 1963.  She is an active member of Palo Alto Rebekah Lodge No. 291, Oriental Rebekah Lodge No. 90.  She has been Noble  Grand 12 times, and District Deputy 6 times.  She is Chief Patriarch of Golden Gate Encampment Auxiliary No. 60; Chaplain of Santa Clara Canton #6.  In 1999-2000 she was President of the Rebekah Assembly and is currently Director of the Rebekah Assembly.

Some of the other fraternal organizations include Sigma Tau Theta Rho Girls Club No. 92; Stockton Junior Odd Fellows; Santa Clara Ladies Auxiliary Patriarchs Militant No. 6; Apollo Odd Fellow Lodge No.123; Past High Priestess of Phillaron Court No. 45 Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America; Past Matron three times of Golden Gate Chapter No. 1, Order of Eastern Star; Daughters of the Golden West (started by an Odd Fellow); East Palo Alto Grange (started by an Odd Fellow); Pride of Woolwich Lodge – Manchester Unity IOOF in London, England where her father’s side of the family have been members since the 1820’s.

Laurie is in several genealogical societies: Daughters of 1812; Descendants of the Colonial Clergy; Daughters of the American Revolution, which she is presently Regent .  She is also into historical groups Colma Historical Society; San Mateo Historical Society; Middleboro, Massachusetts Historical Society; Placer County Historical Society; Roseville Historical Society.

Prescott is and has been active in animal rights including successful protest against Greyhound racing in 1976; Seal and Whale protection; fur protest, animal rescue and the Sierra Club.  She is a life member of the Save the Redwoods League.

Laurie still finds time in her busy schedule for hobbies.  She is a philatelist (stamp collector).  She has nearly 700 covers with Odd Fellow cancellations or caches.  Prescott has a 100,000 postcard collection with almost 1,000 postcards of the 1906 earthquake.  Laurie collects China and British World Wide.  She is a member of many philatelic organizations including the “Rangers” which is an honor society for collectors and benefits children.

Prescott is a member of West Portal Lutheran Church.  She manages the eight buildings of the church and school.  She is serving a third term as Youth Director on the Fortune 500 Lutheran-based Thrivant Financial Board.  For seven years she was on the Commission for the Restoration of Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard.

Laurie’s mother passed away in 1985, leaving her the sole owner of the Ledyard Street home she has lived in all her life.  Laurie says the house has 5 parking spaces, a rare commodity in the City.  With no children of her own, she has included her home and cash for Rebekah Children’s Services in her estate plan.  The Children’s Home is a beneficiary in her Will because of the “good work we do”, said Laurie.  Her wish is that the Children’s Home would close because “that would mean there are no other children in need of services”.  However, after working in the City schools, she knows firsthand how much need for children there is.  She has intervened many times on behalf of children who were in abusive situations.  Laurie believes that “if everyone left a small percentage of their estate to RCS, it would add up to a lot and make a big difference for children”.  She says “people can still take care of their families in their estate plans and leave something to charity as well”.

Laurie’s name, along with other Legacy Society members, is on a recessed wall at the entrance of Rebekah Children’s Services vintage 1921 main building in Gilroy.  Rebekah Children’s Services is proud to honor those, like Laurie, who have informed us of their intentions in their estate plans. To learn more about Rebekah Children’s Services Legacy Society, contact Eleanor Villarreal at (408) 846-2142.