Velma Park Jones went to meet her Lord and Savior on November 22, 2023,
after a brief illness. Velma was born in Charlottesville, VA on December 21, 1950, to
Samuel Irle and Ruth Hazel Jones. She was the beloved youngest of three girls, and a
loving sister to her younger brother. Velma accepted Christ at an early age and joined
the Slate River Baptist Church. She remained active in the church throughout her life
and was a member of the Choir, Trustee Board, Financial Secretary, and a respected
Deaconess. She was known for her high morals, unwavering commitment to speak up
for what is right, attention to detail, and always being willing to help others. She was educated in the Buckingham County School System, starting with
the Slate River and S. J. Ellis Elementary Schools, and eventually graduating from
Carter G Woodson High School as Class President in 1969. She later graduated from
Virginia State College, now University, in 1974, with a Bachelor of Science degree
in Biology. Velma began her teaching experience in the Buckingham County School
System in 1974, in the Junior High School and then Middle School as a Science
teacher. She was a true educator and was actively involved in the development of
county youth academically and in extra-curricular activities. Velma held positions as
a Cheerleader Sponsor, National Beta Club Advisor, and sponsor of the Buckingham
County Middle School Student Government Association to name a few. Velma was a strong advocate for loved ones and causes dear to her heart, such
as education and civic responsibility. She held a position in the United Baptist
Association and The Women's Missionary and Educational Convention of Central
Virginia; Velma was the Corresponding Secretary for the Association and Missionary
Convention Technician. After her retirement from the Buckingham County School
System, after serving over 30 years, she remained committed to education and
routinely served as a substitute teacher for the county. In addition, she was a member
of the Buckingham Branch of the NAACP, as well as a board member and later Chair
of the Piedmont Virginia Community College Board in Charlottesville, Virginia. She
also served on the board of the Southside Virginia Community College in Alberta,
Virginia and was a member of the Virginia State Alumni Association. Velma was
actively involved in her community and was proudly initiated into the Kappa Rho
Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc on May 23, 1981, where she
continued her dedication and service to others. If you knew Velma, you knew she sung beautifully, was technically and
mechanically inclined, a fast walker, could be no-nonsense when needed, an avid
reader, fastidious about her fingernails, and had an innate appreciation of science, as
well as love for her family and Church. Velma also loved to decorate for Christmas! Velma was predeceased by her parents and is survived by: her siblings, Yvonne
Jones Brown, Gwendolyn Ruth Jones, and Thomas Irle Jones; her nieces and
nephews, Tina Elizabeth Dodson (Earl), Shannon Dominique Brown, Warren
Gamaliel Harding Brown III, and Hunter Irle Nicholas Brown; great nephews,
Damien Colvin-Dodson (Lauren), Demetrius Colvin-Dodson; great nieces, Haley
Colvin-Dodson, Chloe “Precious” Ruth Garner; and great-great nieces, Aaliyah and
Gianna Colvin-Dodson; as well as a large and loving extended family, good friends,
and neighbors. In one of her last conversations, Velma said "I had joy". She was an intelligent
and beautiful soul who will be loved and missed by many.