Life
May 7, 2020
Vera Lee Walker was born November 1, 1952, at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL. She was the third of six children born to the late Larnie and Birdie Mary Lucille Walker. Both parents and three siblings, Michael, Cleo, and Barbara Ann preceded her in death.
As a child, Vera loved to design things, draw, do crafts, and hair. She attended grammar school at Ryerson Elementary where she met her lifelong friend Jerlean. Together, they graduated from Westinghouse Vocational High School, “Home of the Warriors” in 1971. She then began her employment with the Goldblatt’s Department Stores.
While at Goldblatt’s in 1973, Vera caught the eyes of her future beau Floyd. They began dating, and soon realized their love for God, life goals, and future aspirations were compatible. Vera began to attend church with Floyd, and then she accepted Christ in her life as her personal Lord and Savior. Vera was baptized at Greater Rock Missionary Baptist Church by the late Rev. Morgan James, Sr. and she devoted her life to serving God in worship, praise, and thanksgiving. Vera and Floyd fell in love and were married on December 28, 1974 and from this spiritual union; God blessed them with five precious children: LaVonda, Quiana, Floyd Jr., LeShawn, and LeTisha.
Vera continued the pursuit of her childhood dream of becoming a cosmetologist by enrolling in Debbie’s School of Beauty. After receiving her Cosmetology Certificate, she began working at Maxine’s Beauty Salon, as a licensed hairdresser.
Shortly thereafter, she decided to put her entrepreneurship skills into practice. Vera, with her creative flair, designed and set-up her own Beauty Salon, called Vera’s Hair Repair on Chicago and St. Louis Avenue. With its lavish black and white theme, everyone knew Vera had style! Vera continued her passion of doing hair by attending classes at Dudley’s University to be able to extend her services to teaching cosmetology classes to others. Vera attended Beauty Shows every year in St. Louis and Atlanta to perfect her craft and learn the latest styles and techniques.
The Lord had blessed Vera with a gift of creativity, which allowed her to be called a “Jack-of-all-trades,” and she was a master of many! She baked cakes, planned weddings, designed crafts, and even created a few plays. Vera loved all these things dearly, but her most important work was in Ministry at Greater Rock.
Vera was an active member of the Young Adult Choir for many years. In 1984 Pastor Morgan James, Sr. became ill and Rev. Floyd James, Sr. became Pastor of Greater Rock Church. She then served as the First Lady working diligently with her husband and chairing many ministries. Vera spent a lot of time helping to groom husbands and wives in the Marriage Ministry. Her favorite saying was “Treat him rough and make him like it!”
In 1999, Vera began her fight with cancer and was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. However, despite the difficulty this disease caused, Vera continued to rely on the Lord to keep and sustain her. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation in 2001, Vera was diagnosed with a Brain Tumor. As frightening as this may have seemed, Vera stood tall and continued to fight. She eventually had surgery to remove the Brain Tumor and underwent a series of radiation treatments. But after the fight of her life, her health began to fail. She began losing her ability to walk and talk, but her faith remained intact. The Lord blessed her with longevity. Even with her failing health Vera’s love for travelling did not stop.
On May 2, 2020, God booked her final flight. He had decided that it was time for Vera to rest. To cherish her loving memory, she leaves to mourn: her dedicated husband of 45+ years Rev. Floyd. Three daughters: LaVonda (David) Murphy, Quiana, and LeTisha. Two sons: Floyd Jr. (Karla), and LeShawn (Breyanna). Four grandchildren: Kaila, Floyd III, Remar, and Jillian. Two sisters: Lonnie Burkett and Faye Ann (Abe) and One brother, Lawrence (Pam). Five sisters-in-law: Marguerite of Detroit, MI, Delores of Tampa, FL, Brenda, Joyce (Marty) Henderson, Mary Larosa (Grover) Anderson. Three brothers-in-law: Morgan Jr. (Precious), Allen and Slaughter (Amy). Best Friend of 55 years, JerleanMatthews. Godchildren: Arriele Patrick and Derrick Matthews. Two special brothers and sisters: Johnny and Gynetta Miller, and Joe and Rhonda Kelley. Two special sons, Antonio Wallace and Charles King, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, other relatives, and the Greater Rock Church Family.
As a child, Vera loved to design things, draw, do crafts, and hair. She attended grammar school at Ryerson Elementary where she met her lifelong friend Jerlean. Together, they graduated from Westinghouse Vocational High School, “Home of the Warriors” in 1971. She then began her employment with the Goldblatt’s Department Stores.
While at Goldblatt’s in 1973, Vera caught the eyes of her future beau Floyd. They began dating, and soon realized their love for God, life goals, and future aspirations were compatible. Vera began to attend church with Floyd, and then she accepted Christ in her life as her personal Lord and Savior. Vera was baptized at Greater Rock Missionary Baptist Church by the late Rev. Morgan James, Sr. and she devoted her life to serving God in worship, praise, and thanksgiving. Vera and Floyd fell in love and were married on December 28, 1974 and from this spiritual union; God blessed them with five precious children: LaVonda, Quiana, Floyd Jr., LeShawn, and LeTisha.
Vera continued the pursuit of her childhood dream of becoming a cosmetologist by enrolling in Debbie’s School of Beauty. After receiving her Cosmetology Certificate, she began working at Maxine’s Beauty Salon, as a licensed hairdresser.
Shortly thereafter, she decided to put her entrepreneurship skills into practice. Vera, with her creative flair, designed and set-up her own Beauty Salon, called Vera’s Hair Repair on Chicago and St. Louis Avenue. With its lavish black and white theme, everyone knew Vera had style! Vera continued her passion of doing hair by attending classes at Dudley’s University to be able to extend her services to teaching cosmetology classes to others. Vera attended Beauty Shows every year in St. Louis and Atlanta to perfect her craft and learn the latest styles and techniques.
The Lord had blessed Vera with a gift of creativity, which allowed her to be called a “Jack-of-all-trades,” and she was a master of many! She baked cakes, planned weddings, designed crafts, and even created a few plays. Vera loved all these things dearly, but her most important work was in Ministry at Greater Rock.
Vera was an active member of the Young Adult Choir for many years. In 1984 Pastor Morgan James, Sr. became ill and Rev. Floyd James, Sr. became Pastor of Greater Rock Church. She then served as the First Lady working diligently with her husband and chairing many ministries. Vera spent a lot of time helping to groom husbands and wives in the Marriage Ministry. Her favorite saying was “Treat him rough and make him like it!”
In 1999, Vera began her fight with cancer and was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. However, despite the difficulty this disease caused, Vera continued to rely on the Lord to keep and sustain her. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation in 2001, Vera was diagnosed with a Brain Tumor. As frightening as this may have seemed, Vera stood tall and continued to fight. She eventually had surgery to remove the Brain Tumor and underwent a series of radiation treatments. But after the fight of her life, her health began to fail. She began losing her ability to walk and talk, but her faith remained intact. The Lord blessed her with longevity. Even with her failing health Vera’s love for travelling did not stop.
On May 2, 2020, God booked her final flight. He had decided that it was time for Vera to rest. To cherish her loving memory, she leaves to mourn: her dedicated husband of 45+ years Rev. Floyd. Three daughters: LaVonda (David) Murphy, Quiana, and LeTisha. Two sons: Floyd Jr. (Karla), and LeShawn (Breyanna). Four grandchildren: Kaila, Floyd III, Remar, and Jillian. Two sisters: Lonnie Burkett and Faye Ann (Abe) and One brother, Lawrence (Pam). Five sisters-in-law: Marguerite of Detroit, MI, Delores of Tampa, FL, Brenda, Joyce (Marty) Henderson, Mary Larosa (Grover) Anderson. Three brothers-in-law: Morgan Jr. (Precious), Allen and Slaughter (Amy). Best Friend of 55 years, JerleanMatthews. Godchildren: Arriele Patrick and Derrick Matthews. Two special brothers and sisters: Johnny and Gynetta Miller, and Joe and Rhonda Kelley. Two special sons, Antonio Wallace and Charles King, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, other relatives, and the Greater Rock Church Family.