Velma B. Davis, age 99, of Flora, Illinois, passed away on Saturday morning, July 24, 2021, at Flora Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.

     Velma was born April 11, 1922, in Wayne County, near Rinard, to Verner and Maggie Weiler Bussey.  She attended a one-room school during her grade school years and graduated from Flora High School in 1939.

     During World War II, Velma worked in the Midwestern Office Headquarters of the American Red Cross in St. Louis, Missouri.  She then moved to West Hollywood, working at a branch of the California Bank.  After the bank, she worked for the Southern Counties Natural Gas Company in Santa Monica and Venice, California, for 21 years.

     While living in California, Velma was married to Joseph L. Davis.  They were married on August 12, 1950, in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Joseph passed away in 1974, two years after retiring from the United States Postal Service.

     Velma traveled the world with her cousin and friends, touring Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and China.  Along with traveling, her favorite hobbies included gardening, knitting and needlework, reading, attending Church and Bible study, oil painting and other crafts, and genealogy.

     Velma was a member of Flora First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, National Association of Letter Carriers Auxiliary, the Flora Garden Club, Unit 13, the Criterion Club, and the Eastern Star.

     She is survived by her sister, Ferne Harrell of Flora; three great-nieces and one great-nephew, as well as several great-great-nieces and nephews; and three cousins.

     Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; her nieces, Janet Harrell Rigg and Judy Harrell Winters; and special cousins, Helen Utterback Howell and Pearl Karr Durkee.

     A funeral ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 1, 2021, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora.  Burial will follow in Cisne Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 1 until 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.  Memorials can be made to the Flora United Methodist Church, and will be accepted through the funeral home.