Service
Mrs. Velma Outland age 62 of Chicago, IL (formerly of Flora, MS) Funeral services will be Saturday March 12, 2016 12:30 pm at Good Hope Baptist Church 1828 Cox Ferry Rd Flora, MS. Visitation will be Friday March 11, 2016 1p-7p.
Obituary
Ms. Velma H. (Vera Mae) Outland arrived on June 3, 1953 in Bolton (Hinds County), Mississippi. She was the sixth child of twelve children, born to the union of Mother Reecy (Pott) Thornton-Outland and the late Deacon McCoy (Kidd) Outland. Vera was bountifully blessed to have grown up in a Christian and Religious home and family. She confessed her hope in Christ at a youthful age and was baptized at the Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Pocahontas, Mississippi. She cultivated her faith though worship and service to her Creator. She later joined the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Flora, Mississippi under the leadership of the late Pastor C. H. Hart.
Velma completed her educational tenure through the Madison County Public School system at East Flora High and received her Diploma of Graduation in May, 1971. At the age of seventeen, Velma relocated to Chicago, Illinois to begin a new life. Her Professional Career began with Bell & Howell, Incorporated; and continued as a Unit Clerk at the University of Chicago for eighteen years when her health declined and she accepted an early retirement.
Velma continued her religious practices upon relocation to Chicago and united with the Vernon Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Earl Cannon there she sang in the choir. In 1983 Velma united with the Way of Truth Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Charles Lee. There she served on the Beauty/Hospitality Committee and the Pastor's Aid Club. In 1997 she united with the Spiritual Awakening Missionary Baptist Church under the current leadership of Pastor Steve Jones. Velma was a phenomenal, God-Fearing Woman of Faith and loved her Church. She remained a dedicated member of Spiritual Awakening until her untimely death.
Velma was a caring, loving Mother and Grandmother, kind hearted, selfless person who loved her family, friend and neighbors. She believed in the certainty of God, the reality of life and death and the fact that each woman has a purpose driven life beyond this World. She spoke encouraging words to others; added a spark of joy to those she met and a sisterly devotion to her love ones.
God blessed Velma with the gifts of two handsome sons Xavier DeSean and Zachary Hubert McCoy putting the Lord first in their lives was what she always taught them. She truly loved her sons and six grandchildren, they were her heart.
Velma was preceded in death by: her father McCoy; four brothers, Jerry, Willie, Charles and Leonard; one sister Esther; two nephews Christopher Outland and Michael Wilkins.
Early Sunday Morning, February 28, 2016 Jesus gently took Velma by the hand and whispered "My Child our Father is waiting for us to board your heavenly flight, let us go now". She quietly left this earthly home for her Mansion in the Sky.
Velma (Vera Mae) Outland will forever be cherished and engraved in the memories of: her two loving sons, Xavier DeSean Outland (Belinda) of Bryan, Texas and Zachary Hubert McCoy Outland (Keeley) of Bloomington, Illinois; six grand children, Wanda, Yasmsine, Imani, Aauryanna, Payton and Elijah; a loving mother, Reecy T. Outland of Flora, Mississippi; one brother, James C. Wilkins (Deloris) of Dolton, Illinois; five sisters, Carrie W. Adams (Ellis, Jr.) of Madison, Mississippi, Katie O. Hill ( James, Jr.) of Ridgeland, Mississippi, Pearl O. Kelly (David, Sr.) of Memphis Tennessee, Mary O. Patton (Richard) and Dorothy Lynette Outland, both of Flora, Mississippi; four aunts, two uncles and four sisters-in-law; her children's fathers, Jerry Smith and Hubert Eason and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Velma completed her educational tenure through the Madison County Public School system at East Flora High and received her Diploma of Graduation in May, 1971. At the age of seventeen, Velma relocated to Chicago, Illinois to begin a new life. Her Professional Career began with Bell & Howell, Incorporated; and continued as a Unit Clerk at the University of Chicago for eighteen years when her health declined and she accepted an early retirement.
Velma continued her religious practices upon relocation to Chicago and united with the Vernon Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Earl Cannon there she sang in the choir. In 1983 Velma united with the Way of Truth Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Charles Lee. There she served on the Beauty/Hospitality Committee and the Pastor's Aid Club. In 1997 she united with the Spiritual Awakening Missionary Baptist Church under the current leadership of Pastor Steve Jones. Velma was a phenomenal, God-Fearing Woman of Faith and loved her Church. She remained a dedicated member of Spiritual Awakening until her untimely death.
Velma was a caring, loving Mother and Grandmother, kind hearted, selfless person who loved her family, friend and neighbors. She believed in the certainty of God, the reality of life and death and the fact that each woman has a purpose driven life beyond this World. She spoke encouraging words to others; added a spark of joy to those she met and a sisterly devotion to her love ones.
God blessed Velma with the gifts of two handsome sons Xavier DeSean and Zachary Hubert McCoy putting the Lord first in their lives was what she always taught them. She truly loved her sons and six grandchildren, they were her heart.
Velma was preceded in death by: her father McCoy; four brothers, Jerry, Willie, Charles and Leonard; one sister Esther; two nephews Christopher Outland and Michael Wilkins.
Early Sunday Morning, February 28, 2016 Jesus gently took Velma by the hand and whispered "My Child our Father is waiting for us to board your heavenly flight, let us go now". She quietly left this earthly home for her Mansion in the Sky.
Velma (Vera Mae) Outland will forever be cherished and engraved in the memories of: her two loving sons, Xavier DeSean Outland (Belinda) of Bryan, Texas and Zachary Hubert McCoy Outland (Keeley) of Bloomington, Illinois; six grand children, Wanda, Yasmsine, Imani, Aauryanna, Payton and Elijah; a loving mother, Reecy T. Outland of Flora, Mississippi; one brother, James C. Wilkins (Deloris) of Dolton, Illinois; five sisters, Carrie W. Adams (Ellis, Jr.) of Madison, Mississippi, Katie O. Hill ( James, Jr.) of Ridgeland, Mississippi, Pearl O. Kelly (David, Sr.) of Memphis Tennessee, Mary O. Patton (Richard) and Dorothy Lynette Outland, both of Flora, Mississippi; four aunts, two uncles and four sisters-in-law; her children's fathers, Jerry Smith and Hubert Eason and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.