Director of Bands at Fairfax County’s Westfield High School, died of breast cancer on January 2, 2006 at the age of 48.

The former Laura Jean Anderson was a native of Urbana, Illinois.

Mrs. McBride’s first teaching position in the Washington area was as Assistant Band Director at Woodbridge High School from 1991 to 1992. Afterwards, she spent eight years as the Director of Bands at JEB Stuart High School in Falls Church. In September, 2000, Mrs. McBride opened the newly built Westfield High School, where her bands consistently received Superior Ratings at the VBODA band festival and earned recognition by performances at the VMEA State Convention, the Festivals of Music Awards Ceremony in Boston, and the Bands of America Festival in Indianapolis.

Mrs. McBride is survived by her husband, Robert McBride of Woodbridge; two sisters, Janet Golaszewski of Urbana, Illinois and Beth Jannusch of St. Joseph, Illinois. She was the daughter of Barbara Anderson, also of Urbana, and the late James Anderson.

Memorial services will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 on Friday, January 6, 2006 at FAIRFAX MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 9200 Braddock Road, Fairfax VA. The family will be receive friends for visitation from 2 to 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, thefamily requests that donations be made to the Westfield High School Music Booster Club at Westfield High School, 4700 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly, VA 20151 or to a local high school band or music booster organization.