Velda Mae Noell Deddo was born in Bedford Virginia as the younger of two children of Anna Mae and Robert Marshall Noell. Her older brother, affectionately known as Bobby preceded her in death. She grieved his loss greatly. She passed away peacefully at age 85 with family by her side on December 28, 2023. She leaves behind former husband Joseph Michael Deddo (Joe), her daughter Deborah Anna Ruth Cobb (Debbie), son Joseph Edward Deddo (Joe), daughter Glendora Maria Blake (Dorie), son Robert Joseph Deddo (Rob), chosen son Jason Sigal, seven beautiful grandchildren, and six beautiful great-grandchildren. Velda’s life was a colorful one to say the least. Born into the entertainment industry she had a life living as a member of traveling Vaudeville, Circus and Carnival circuits and living many years at her home at Noell’s Ark Chimp Farm in Palm Harbor Florida. Velda was wife for many years to Joe Deddo who currently resides in Pisgah Forest NC. With family members, two very faithful steadfast friends (Betty & Elenor) and many others praying, Velda came to realize that she had not been born again in her spirit after listening to a message from Chip Ingram that originally aired on December 7, 2023: https://subsplash.com/chipingram/media/mi/+d3y9c5g Velda realized she was missing this vital part of God’s greatest gift. On the morning of December 8, 2023, Velda put her complete trust in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and her spirit became alive only by the finished work of what Jesus did on the cross. Her immediate family witnessed a radical transformation. The next 20 days of her life would prove to be the most peaceful she had ever experienced. She started making a mental list of people to apologize to for not “being as nice as I could have been”. She was able to speak to some of those people and I believe she would want us to say that if she offended you in any way, she is sorry and please forgive her. With her newfound peace and connection to her new helper, the Holy Spirit, she knew she was going home because her physical body suffered from over 70 years of smoking which had taken its toll. She was not able to maintain an adequate oxygen level without the assistance of machines and had made it very clear to not sustain her life in that way. She passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus even stating. “I have run the race, and it is time to go”. This may not be a typical obituary, but it is as unique and as special as our mother. Please don’t stop praying for your loved ones to be spiritually born again.
Mom loved being a foster mother and supported adoption. In lieu of flowers the family believes mom would support receipt of monetary gifts for the adoption process of a sweet baby girl named Hazel by a beautiful family in Brevard, NC who have dedicated many years to fostering and now are scheduled to adopt Hazel in the very near future. If you are led, please make checks payable to Dunn’s Rock Baptist Church P.O. Box 108 Brevard NC 28712. Please put Hazel in the memo line. Thank you for your support and prayers. If you have further questions feel free to contact Dorie Blake 828-577-4767
Graveside service will be at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park, 2860 Sunset Point Road, Clearwater Florida 33759 on January 25th at 2:00 pm.
