Channel Surfing by Laura Nachman Bucks County Courier Times June 1, 2004 On May 27, WPVI news anchor Jim Gardner announced that fellow anchor Lisa Thomas-Laury will not return to "Action News."  Here is the official press release from the station: During the past two years, Lisa Thomas-Laury has been battling a chronic peripheral neuropathy, a disease that affects the nerves in her feet and legs.  The illness has forced Lisa to be on medical leave intermittently, with the goal of returning to work. However, Lisa and her doctors have decided she needs a longer period of time to focus solely on her health, and she will be leaving Action News at 5pm.  Because Lisa has been a major part of the Action News team for the past 26 years, we are leaving the door open for her to return to Action News when her health permits. Lisa will always be a member of the Channel 6 family, and we look forward to the day she is able to rejoin us. Lisa bio: Lisa Thomas-Laury joined WPVI-TV on February 20, 1978, as noon co-anchor and reporter.  She became co-anchor of Action News at 5pm in 1983 , also serving as a substitute anchor for Jim Gardner at 6 and 11pm.   In addition, she has hosted WPVI-TV's award winning monthly Public Affairs program "Fast Forward," and the "Children First" series, as well as special events such as the annual 6ABC/Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Ms. Laury earned her B.A. Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.  While attending Marshall, she became the state's first African-American TV weather personality, reporting the weekend weather for WSAZ-TV.  After graduation, Lisa became a morning news anchor/reporter/photographer for KTVY-TV in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Her professional abilities then took her to WTVF-TV where she received the Tennessee "School Bell Awards" for her education series on the gifted child.  At Channel 6, Lisa placed first in an Associated Press competition for her special Thanksgiving series, "Five Families Give Thanks."   Lisa was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Holy Family College in 2000.  She has also received numerous community service awards, including one from the local chapter of the Negro Professional and Business Women's Association, the United States Jaycees, American Women in Radio and Television, and the Philadelphia Lioness Club.  She has also been honored as "Outstanding Television News Personality" by the Ruth Marks Magilner Chapter, B'nai B'rith Women.  Lisa was honored by the Camden County YWCA as a TWIN award recipient for her outstanding accomplishments, and was the 1996 recipient of the prestigious "Sarah Award," presented to outstanding women in the media by the local chapter of Women in Communications.   Most recently, Lisa was named honorary chairperson for the Maternity Care Coalition by President Diane Croce.  The organization raises money for women in need throughout the Delaware Valley. Lisa has been a Trustee of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, a member of the Honorary Board of Directors of the Lupus Foundation of Delaware Valley, Inc., an Honorary Committee member of the African-American Cultural and Historical Museum, and is currently an Honorary Chair of the local chapter of the March of Dimes.  Lisa is married to local physician Dr. William Laury and has two sons.