Velma D. Vinson
May 1, 1919 - January 20, 2007
Obituary
Velma Vinson was born on May 1, 1919 in Crocketts Bluff, Arkansas. She was the second of 10 children born to the late George & Lettie Hancock Elders.
She professed a hope in Christ at an early age and joined the Saint Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Crocketts Bluff, Arkansas. One Sunday in 1937, upon drawing water from the church well, she was approached by a handsome young man by the name of Theophilus Vinson who asked her out on a date. This later turned into a marriage that produced 13 children and lasted 61 beautiful years. Velma was a dedicated wife, mother, and excellent homemaker. In 1969, she relocated with her husband and children to Seattle, Washington. She transferred her church membership to Goodwill MIssionary Baptist Church in Seattle, where she remained a faithful member for 38 years. At the age of 50, Velma became an entrepreneur and started a licensed day care center in the Central area of Seattle. After 16 years of serving matriarch and advisor of Vinson Brothers Corporation, Vinson Brothers Intl. Inc., DBA Absolute Cleaning Services; Al Vinson’s INC., DBA SeaTac Sweeping Services; family owned and operated businesses of Seattle and Kent Washington. Velma’s interests and hobbies included reading the Bible, world traveling, gardening, interior decorating, photography, shopping, self-taught pianist and daily counseling to those who sought her wisdom. She received her summons to be with the Lord at 4:45 am January 20, 2007. She was preceded in death by her husband, Theophilus Vinson; three sisters, Dessie Avery, Opal Smith, and Beatrice Jackson; two brothers, Rayford and Thelbert Elders; and two grandchildren, Darrin Jarrard Cross and Earl Vinson, Jr. She is survived by her 13 children: Verdovalus James Vinson Jeanette, Bonnie Jean Hunter John, Yvonne Hailey William, Donald Ray Vinson, Earl Vinson Gwendolyn Joyce, Carol Vinson Christine, Lawrence Everett Vinson Dinah, Alfred Vinson, Mary Singletary Gerald, Elveria Cross Cecil, all of Seattle, Washington; Timothy Vinson Angelita of Chicago, IL; Ricky Rudell Birt Vinson, and Joe Krushchev Vinson Janet of Seattle, Washington. She is also survived by one sister, Flossie Montgomery pf Chicago, IL; three brothers; Eddie, Wilford, and Cleo Elders, all of Chicago, IL, 26 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Viewing will be held at Bonney Watson 1732 Broadway, Friday January 26, 2007 from 10am-8pm. Funeral services will be held Saturday January 27, 2007 at 11:00 am at Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church 126 15th ave, Seattle,WA.
Mother Vinson was a great mother to her family and an outstanding cook and accepted
everyone in her home.Her children all do her a great honor in being such outstanding people.She has left a great legacy.
We are praying God’s divine grace, strength and comfort upon your family as you mourn the loss of a cherished saint.
We thank God for what HE accomplished in Mrs. Vinson’s life. Our life and the lives of many others were blessed by knowing her. Love
Barbara Holt Holloway
I was eight years old when I was molested and brutalized in Velma Vinsons in home daycare back in 1978.
I was molested by Velma’s autistic son Ricky and Velma beat the soul out of me knocking my front teeth out of my mouth.
Velma assaulted me because her son was caught being a pedophile.
I left my story on this forum before and someone deleted it, but that’s expected because in the black community anything that has to do with incest or rape is covered up and most of the time the victim isn’t believed.
For many years I have searched for the Vinsons and I wanted to reach out and ask why they hurt me, why did they leave a forever scar in my soul that’ll never go away.
I have two sons ages 22 and 27 and they know about my tragic story, a story that will forever haunt me, Velma and her son to eternity. Velma, Theo, Ricky and most of their family knows exactly what happened and to reiterate they turned a blind eye and there was no support at all.
Sadly my family never sought out help for me when I was a young girl, and I have lived with this traumatic
nightmare for years.
I don’t know how to move on, I just know that men and women who were raped and assaulted in the most inhumane way, grew up pretty messed up psychologically.
Through the grace of God and just keeping the faith and praying every single day, I have learned that people who hurt people are broken and soulless and I can’t find it in my heart to forgive them.
All I want is an explanation and a contrite.
I didn’t deserve to be harmed and discarded like a piece of trash.