Velma M. Davis

Velma M. Davis, 91, of 18 Dix Creek Chapel Road, Asheville, died Saturday, April 12, 2003 at the home of Brooks and Nicole Burrows, 21 Dix Creek Chapel Road. Born on April 9, 1912 in Buncombe County, she was a daughter of the late John Arthur and Sarah Bishop Davis and also was preceded in death by a sister, Clara Davis Runion. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church. A graduate of West Buncombe High School, she was valedictorian of her class and received medals for honors in French. Velma retired in 1977 from the J.C. Penney Company with 31 years service. She is survived by her niece, Brenda R. Burrows, and her husband Bill, of Asheville; one brother-in law, Lester S. Runion of Asheville; a great-nephew, Brooks Anthony Burrows, and his wife Nicole, of Asheville; a great-great-nephew, Calvin Lee Burrows of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; a great-great-niece, Jaclyn Brook Burrows of Asheville and several cousins. Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Monday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Ronnie Owen and the Rev. Ricky Townsend officiating. Burial will follow in Dix Creek Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ed Brown, Wilburn Parham, Brooks Burrows, Bill Burrows, Jim Heise and Derrick Norvell. The family will greet friends for thirty minutes prior to the service at the funeral home and at other times will be at the home of Bill and Brenda Burrows, 189 O’Donald Road, Asheville. Memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813, whom the family would like to express their thanks for the love and care shown to Velma.