Velmeta Virginia Washington

Velmeta Virginia McPherson-Washington was born on November 27, 1930 in Clarksville, TX to Montana and Lillie-Cherry McPherson. Velmeta was the fourth of five siblings. She received her education from Clarksville ISD and graduated from Clarksville High. Her dreams of becoming an educator were fulfilled upon graduation with a degree in Elementary Education. Velmeta later pursued a Master’s degree in Education and graduated from Texas Christian University (TCU).

Velmeta confessed Christ at an early age at the Macedonia Sylome Baptist Church in Clarksville, TX. Upon moving to Fort Worth in the early 1950’s, she and the McPherson clan united with the Pilgrim Valley Missionary Baptist Church under the Pastorate of Rafe Henry Hallum and founding Pastor of the now Historic Mount Sinai Baptist Church. Velmeta later in life married George Washington. The union did not render any offspring, but Velmeta loved her six step-children as her own. Velmeta was a mother who loved and raised Lisa as her own.

Velmeta McPherson-Washington served in many ministry capacities during her 60 plus tenue at Pilgrim Valley and was a Church Trustee and dedicated Sunday School teacher.

Those who preceded her in that eternal transition are her husband, George Washington Sr.; father, Montana McPherson; mother, Lilly McPherson; brothers, Benjamin Cherry and Eugene McPherson; and sister, Ocie B. Hardeman.

Those left to her precious memories are nephews, Bishop B.C. McPherson II (Yolanda), Eric D. McPherson; niece, Linda Woodard (Harrell); sister-in-law, Ruth Green-McPherson; nieces, Denise Simmons, Kelli Phillips, Tuesday Sheppard, Pamela Phillips; grand nieces and nephews, Shanique McGill (Tremaine), Benjamin III (Questa), Jasen, Montana, Austin-Benjamin IV, Alexis, Derrick, Kerik, Taylor, Cedrick, Jeremiah, Joshua and Jordan (triplets), Gregory Jr.; cousins, Ella Jean Coleman, Casandra Coleman, Daniel, Mary McIntosh; the Washington family, George Jr., Lou, Reggie and more; and a host of other grand and great grand and great, great, grand nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, a slew of friends, neighbors, coworkers; along with, her beloved Pilgrim Valley Church Family.