Mary Paschall Laughter was born on September 17, 1970. She was born in Fairfax, Virginia, but grew up in Virginia Beach.

She didn't grow up in a typical household. Her mother left her when she was young, and her father, Allan Paschall, was left to raise her. Mary had a sister, Nancy, who was six years older and wanted nothing to do with her. Mary said that even though Nancy didn't want her, she practically raised her. Her

father, on the other hand, was in

the military, and he didn't have

much of a personality.

Allan Paschall on January 1, 2000.

Mary began helping her father attend boats from a

very young age. He lived a life of fishing and caught the world record black sea bass of ten pounds, four ounces, in 2000. Thanks to him, she is now a great fisherwoman!

Mary grew up with many pets that kept her company. Not only did she have cats and dogs, but she had two ducks, Teeny and Tiny, and a raccoon, Sushi. Mittens was her first cat, and then she got Mouse. She took care of them, and she grew up with them. Later, she got Fuzzy, who was a very destructive cat. Fuzzy was cute on the outside but vicious on the inside. Mary said she still remembers Fuzzy because of her destructive ways.

Even though not all her pets were good, she loved them

very dearly.

Mary met her best friend, Dawn, in third grade. Dawn moved into Mary's neighborhood and was in second grade when they met. They spent most of their time together and enjoyed each other's company.

When Mary would get clothes, her father would make her shop at the Navy Exchange. Dawn had her back by lending her clothes because she knew Mary hated her clothes. Mary would leave her dad's house and change into Dawn's clothes after she left home.

After seventh grade, Dawn stayed at Mary's house almost every weekend. They also hung out together every day after school. They got into trouble, had fun,

studied, and they grew up together. Today, they still keep in touch about their lives and hang out sometimes together.

While Mary was still in school, she got a job in 1985, cleaning tables and washing dishes at a restaurant called, Duck-In. It was located in Virginia Beach, but it was later torn down. She loved it there, and she said her

experience was great! The

only thing she didn't like

was being on her feat for so

long during the day.

Duck-In, Virgina Beach.

Mary didn't graduate from high school, but she did go to college. In August 1988, she went to Tidewater Community College. She went there because it was a lot cheaper than regular college. She also went there to accommodate her G.E.D. Some of her classes she did well in, others not so much. She left college at the end of 1989.

Tidewater Community College.

After she left Tidewater, she moved to Palm Beach, Florida for about four months. Ocean Yachts, Incoroporation hired her in Florida to deliver boats.

Later on, she started working for Viking Yacht Service Center where she carried out the same job. Mary was also an observer for fishing torments and she washed boats.

Her favorite part of her time there was being able to catch many fish and getting paid to watch other people fish. "Spending time in Flordia was like paradise. The water was clear and I could see the fish swimming below me," she said.

After Mary moved back to Virginia, she started going to college at Old Dominion University in August 1993. At first she studied to be a certified public accountant. Then, she studied to be a teacher. For six weeks, she was a student teacher at two different schools. "It was challenging. The students were what made the job

Old Dominion University.

difficult," Mary said.

After Mary received her Bacholer's Degree for teaching, she began to work full time at Bay Mechanical, a construction company in Virginia Beach. There, she helped build the Sussex Prision in Waverly, Virginia.

Mary unfortunately broke her leg before she could go back to college to study for her Master's Degree in teaching. Bay Mechanical was not challenging enough for her, so she was hired by Arc Electric to work in Chesepeake, Virginia.

Working at Arc Electric made her realize that she wanted to go back to college and study to be an