8/5/1920 - 7/6/2020 

"Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee. Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise." This was the quiet legacy of our beloved Vera. It was what her life exhibited, it was the way she acted, and it was what she was - the real deal. Vera will be forever revered for her 'many' contributions to Shiloh, but mostly for being Shiloh's Reigning Librarian Emeria Extraordinaire. Her dedication, commitment, and faithfulness in making the Library the best was legendary. She insisted that rules were to be respected and obeyed. Vera loved to host her famous fish fry galas, where her family, Shiloh friends, and Alcorn State University mates were richly rewarded. She is probably working in Heaven's Library even now, and planning a wonderful fish fry soon. Vera will be missed, especially by her Berean-Golden Deed Circle of her Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, DC.         

OBITUARY

Vera Gadberry Hunter

AUGUST 5, 1920 – JULY 6, 2020

Obituary of Vera Gadberry Hunter PLAY TRIBUTE MOVIE

Life Reflections

On Monday, July 6, 2020, the angels came to the home of our beloved Vera Mae Gadberry Hunter. It was God’s will that she must go. Her time had come and the assurance of a better home was made possible through the word of God. She has taken flight from this world of sin, sorrow and pain to a place of eternal rest.

Vera Gadberry Hunter was born on August 5, 1920 in Louise, Mississippi. She is the daughter of the late Sadie Pettigrew and Harry Henderson Lipsey and was later adopted by John Land Gadberry. She attended Humphrey County Training School and received her high school diploma from Alcorn Laboratory High. Vera continued on at Alcorn College for three years and then after relocating to Washington, DC, she received her Associate Bachelor’s in Commerce and Finance from Howard University in 1947. In 1953, she received her Master of Science degree in Library Science from Catholic University.

Vera worked for the War Production Board (1942-1948) and then as a Reference Librarian for the U.S. Department of Commerce (1948-1965). She worked briefly as a Librarian at the Defense Documentation Center (1965-1966). In 1967, she entered the DC Public Schools as the School Librarian at Van Ness Elementary School and then moved on to Dunbar Senior High School. She retired from the DC School system in 1991 but continued to volunteer at the Dunbar library for several years later and served on the Advisory Board to the Director of Library and Media Services of the District of Columbia Public Schools. She was an active member of the American Library Association and the American Association of School Librarians. She was also a member of the Church & Synagogue Library Association where she held the office of Treasurer (1987-1989), and President (1990-1991).

Vera joined Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, DC in 1943 and became a member of the Golden Deed Circle and served as the Circle Secretary. She was a member of the John A. Miles Sunday School Class and served as Secretary and President over the years. She served as Chairman of the Black Awareness Committee. She was also was a leader of the Shiloh Brownie Scout Troop. As her work life shows her passion for books and reading, she was also the Director of the Shiloh Baptist Church Library up until her health started to fail. As an active member of Shiloh, she was very involved with the Christian Education Committee. She was a member of the Sarah R. Whetts Missionary Group, The Shiloh Investment Club No. 2, The Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, The Ever-Ready Bible Class and The Senior Citizens Club. She established the Shiloh Book Club and The Books for Babies Program.

Vera always considered Alcorn as her “real” alma mater, and she was a Charter member of the Alcorn State University Alumni, DC Chapter. She was a very active member and loved attending the annual Alcorn conferences and hosting the annual Mississippi Fish Fry scholarship fundraiser at her home which always included her homemade ice cream. The D.C. Chapter started The Sadie Pettigrew Gadberry Scholarship in honor of her mother who also attended Alcorn College.

Vera also had a love for traveling both for business and pleasure. She was a member of the School and Youth Services Librarians Delegation of People to People Ambassadors and traveled to Poland, Russia, China, and South Africa. She also has done extensive travel within the United States including an Alaskan cruise. Other international destinations include the Bahamas, Mexico, Australia, London, Paris and a seventeen-day cruise on a sailboat to France, Monaco, Spain, Morocco, Tangier, Gibraltar and Portugal.

Vera married Ireleous J. (Pete) Hunter in 1945 and from that union they had one daughter. She leaves an overflowing amount of life lessons and happy memories with her daughter, Frieda Leona Hunter, granddaughter Tenisha Harrison (Christopher Harrison), two great granddaughters McKenzie and Blake Harrison, one niece Debra Liverpool, four nephews Reuben Gadberry, Earl Gadberry, Justin Liverpool, and Isaac Liverpool. She also leaves many cherished memories with her godsend granddaughter Jennifer Crippen as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fort-lincoln.com for the Hunter family.