Obituary of Vera Mae Washington,73

​ ​A Time To Be Born: ​On July 26, 1946, Vera Mae Smith Washington was born to the late Abraham Smith, Sr. and the ​late Viola Thomas Smith in Pineville, Louisiana. ​ ​A Time To Plant:​​​​​​​​​​Vera was baptized at an early age by Rev. Lee Brooks at Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church in ​Pineville, Louisiana.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​A Time To Learn: ​Vera was educated in Rapides Parish. She graduated from Peabody High School in 1964 ​and graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a Bachelor of Arts ​degree in Elementary Education. She continued her education and obtained a Masters ​Degree in Elementary Education from Prairie View University in Prairie View, Texas. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​A Time To Serve:​​​​​​​​​​Vera grew-up in the Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church in Pineville, Louisiana. When she ​moved to Houston, Texas, she united with Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church under the ​pastorship of the late Rev. Hayward Wiggins and currently pastored by Rev. Dennis C. Jones. ​ ​After college, she began her teaching career in Rapides Parish and continued in Houston ​teaching first and second grades for over forty years in Houston. She enjoyed working with ​"little people" and focused on providing them with a solid academic foundation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​A Time To Love: ​​​​​​​​​​Vera met and married her husband, Garfield Washington in 1975. She loved and ​respected her husband with a faithful devotion for nearly 45 years. They loved their ​families. They were especially devoted to their nieces and nephews, many of whom they ​treated as their own. ​Vera loved her family. They each felt that they were her favorite. She believed in supporting ​her family and friends, especially in times of need. ​Vera and her mother–in-law, Mrs. Gladys Washington, had a mother/daughter ​relationship ​with a common spirit of love for all people. They practiced their faith in love as commanded by ​Jesus Christ. "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples", John ​13:35. ​ ​Vera showed herself friendly to the world. She had many friends from every walk of life, even ​babies loved her. She was cheerful and optimistic. Her smile and laughter were contagious.​She loved and lived life to the fullest. ​Her best friend, Beverly Secssums, who she called Sister, was her confidant and her road ​buddy. They were with each other during the happiest and saddest of times true to God's ​word, "A friend loves at all times...", Proverbs 17:17. She also had a long list of telephone pals ​including her God brother and many cousins and friends, with whom she talked daily. ​ ​A Time To Weep:​​​​​​ ​Vera was preceded in death by her parents, oldest sister, Dorothy Ann Smith, and many ​relatives and friends who are in heaven cheering her arrival.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​A Time To Die:​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Vera departed this life on Friday, January 17, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. in Houston Texas. She ​leaves a ​legacy of loved ones: her devoted husband, Garfield Washington; brothers, Abraham ​Smith, ​Jr. (Vicky) and James W. Smith (Mary); sister, Debra Smith Sampy (Maxie); God brother, ​Willie ​Hamilton (Esther); and Godson, Christopher Smith (Nesha). Vera was surrounded by ​an army of nephews, nieces, cousins, other family members, and friends who lovingly supported ​her, in ​health and sickness, throughout her life. Precious memories will forever remain in our ​hearts.