A Celebration of Lifefor

Velma J. Wilson Born into Time Born into Eternity

August 28, 1934 March 24, 2017

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

VISITATION: 10:00 AM HOMEGOING SERVICE: 11:00 AM

TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST400 West 95th Street

Chicago, Illinois

The Reverend Dr. Otis Moss, III, Senior PastorThe Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Pastor Emeritus

The Reverend Michael D. Jacobs, Officiating Minister

Although Velma Brown Wilson has worn many hats throughout her life – loving wife and mother, teacher, children’s advocate, political strategist, community activist-one thing was always consistent –

That Smile

It made its first appearance on August 28, 1934 at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents, Joseph and Ruby Threlkeld Brown, bucked tradition and moved back to Oxford, Mississippi in 1935 so they could resume teaching careers not available to them in Chicago. Five more Brown children were born in Oxford.

Young Velma completed her elementary education at the Oxford Training School where her father served as principal. In 1948, the family moved backed to Chicago, and Velma attended Parker High School in the Englewood community. After the sudden death of her beloved Mother, Velma took on the responsibility of nurturing and helping her father to raise her five younger sisters and brothers.

Even as a young girl, Velma knew she wanted to be an advocate for others. Earning her BA and MA from Chicago Teachers College (now Chicago State University), teaching was her first calling. For 10 years she taught Kindergarten at the John C. Haines Elementary School in Chinatown where she developed a multi-cultural curriculum for the Chinese, Mexican, Caucasian and African American student population.

Soon Velma met her life partner, John E. Wilson, and they married in 1960. In 1967, Velma and John were blessed with their first daughter, Ginger Renee. Their second blessing, daughter Kelly Joanne, was born in 1968. Velma was able to leave teaching to raise her children, but remained actively involved in their educational, social and community activities. Once the girls were in school all day, she began volunteering for many community organizations including Jack and Jill International, the Prairie Tennis Association, Operation Breadbasket (now Rainbow PUSH), Urban Gateways Board of Guidance and Counseling, University of Chicago Lying In Hospital, League of Black Women, Women’s Board of the Chicago Urban League, and the DuSable Museum of African American History.

Her involvement, membership and leadership in these organizations led to new career opportunities. In 1979 Velma became the Executive Director of the Parent Resource Center on Chicago’s west side where she taught child care and parenting skills to teen mothers.

Her ability to work so tirelessly behind the scenes soon caught the attention of an erudite local politician. She introduced him to her daughters as the next mayor of Chicago. Velma’s indefatigable fundraising for Harold Washington’s – who fondly called her “Puddin” – historic campaign resulted in his win and her appointment as Director of Tourism for the City of Chicago. In the Office of Special Events, she promoted

and encouraged local, national and international tourism through Chicago’s sister-city programs. She was the event planner extraordinaire for the visits to Chicago of Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Queen and King of Sweden and countless other leaders from Africa, France, Japan, China and Australia. Velma served until Harold’s untimely death and through Eugene Sawyer’s tenure.

Other politicians tapped Velma for their teams: scheduler for R. Eugene Pincham; fundraiser and event planner for the first black woman US Senator, Carol Moseley Braun; and, scheduler for Jesse Jackson, Sr.’s 1988 presidential bid.

Although most of us have to live within a 24-hour day, Velma managed to squeeze more out of life. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, The Links, Inc. and Trinity United Church of Christ, she devoted herself in equal measures to these important organizations and causes.

When you have a chance, take another look at the pictures – just look at that smile. It represents a life well lived and a soul devoted to being in service to others.

Velma was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 53 years, John and her loving daughter Ginger Renee. She will be dearly missed by her daughter, Kelly; her sisters Thelma Merchant, Selma and Edna Brown; her brothers Reuben (Yasmeen) and Edwin Brown; her nieces Megan Brown, Linda Garcia Merchant and Marion Rauls; her nephews Frank(Therese) and Michael Merchant, Omari (Tiffany) Brown; her great nieces Sarah Merchant and Eliana Brown; her great nephews Christopher Rauls, Spencer and Joseph Merchant; her beloved cousins Inez (Edgar) Smith, Herbert Wiley, Roneida (Sherman) Martin, Stanford (Amy) Johnson, and Joy Lallemand; her “grand -dog” Sadie; and a host of other relatives, colleagues and friends.

Her family will forever be grateful for her devoted caregivers Stephanie Glover, Mary Willis and Denise Porter.

To God Be The Glory

SLEEP

By Joseph C. Brown

Fear not the dog’s, be not moved by the screeching owl,

Cover not the mirror to hide thy face,

nor stop the clocks hourly pace.

Let not my loved ones weep

When that mystic hour comes for me to sleep.

Homegoing ServiceThe Reverend Michael D. Jacobs, Officiating

Processional The Pastoral Staff

Omega Omega Service Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

The Links Memorial Service Windy City (IL) Chapter of the Links Incorporated

Call to Worship

Invocation The Pastoral Staff

Hymn of Consolation “Blessed Assurance” The Congregation

The Holy Scripture The Deacon Ministry

The Old Testament Proverbs 31: 10-31 NRSV

The New Testament I Corinthians 13 NRSV

Ministry of Music Mr. Eric Thomas

Tributes

Friend Ms. Janet Poole

Family Ms. Kelly Wilson Mr. Michael Merchant

Remarks The Reverend Dr. Leon Finney, Jr. Pastor, Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church Mr. Jonathan Jackson, Rainbow PUSH The Reverend Henry O. Hardy Pastor Emeritus, Cosmopolitan Community Church

Resolutions

Acknowledgements The Pastoral Staff

Obituary To be read silently

Ministry of Music Mr. Eric Thomas

Words of Comfort The Reverend Michael D. Jacobs

Benediction

Closing Hymn & Recessional “Soon and Very Soon”

The Closing Prayer

INTERMENT

OAK WOODS CEMETERY, 1035 East 67th Street, Chicago, IL

Pallbearers

Anthony Laurent Patrick ScottMichael Merchant Jeffrey SmallwoodJay Jones Jeremy Wade

Honorary PallbearersEdwin Brown Michael KnightenRueben Brown Keith ScottVincent Higgins Edgar Smith Greg Kenner Herbert Wiley

Acknowledgements

The family wishes to thank all of you who have joined them in lifting up the life and memory of Velma J. Wilson. Each act of kindness will be acknowledged by the family at a later date.

Repast Immediately Following Interment

Rainbow PUSH Community Hall930 East 50th Street

Chicago, Illinois

The family requests that memorial gifts in Velma’s name be designated to The Alzheimer’s Association of Chicago

or to the

Trinity United Church of Christ Scholarship Fund

Unity Funeral Parlors, Inc. 4114 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60653 – (773) 624-2703Norman J. Williams – President – Funeral Director

Brenda L. Thacker – Funeral Director