Velma Josephine McMurray

Velma Josephine McMurray was born to Trenton Henry Johnson and Janie Campbell Johnson on November 6, 1944 in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

She received the name Josephine in honor or her beloved Aunt Mollie Josephine Campbell, her mother’s older sister.

Velma Johnson joined the Second Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant and was active in church affairs, including Sunday School and the church choir. She attended the Mount Pleasant Community schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. She was well-liked by her classmates and was known for her deep dimples and distinctive laugh. In Junior High and High School she was known among her friends for having a fine collection of rhythm and blues records by artists such as Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Chuck Willis, the Dell Vikings, etc. She was also a member of the high school drill team.

After Velma graduated from Mount Pleasant Community High School in 1963, she married Anderson Jones of Ypsilanti, Michigan; and to this union was born a daughter, Cassandra Anne, who died in 2004.

After the marriage to Mr. Jones ended, Velma moved to Denver, Colorado where she started a new life. While in Denver she met and married Tommie McMurray. In this union she had two more children, Thomas Eugene, known as Tuffy, and Alicia Michelle, and known as Lisa.

Tommie and Velma relocated from Colorado back to Mount Pleasant where they lived a few years before moving to Des Moines.

While they were living in Des Moines the marriage came to an end, and in 1977 Velma married Lee Ellison by whom she had her youngest daughter, Damita Danielle.

After Mr. Ellison died in 2005 Velma remarried Tommie McMurray. They remained together until Mr. McMurray died in 2014.

While she lived in Des Moines, Velma was a member of the Christ Apostolic Temple and also sang in the church choir.

Velma was a generous, kind-hearted person who was devoted to her church and her family. She enjoyed watching NFL football and especially liked the Rams when they were in St. Louis. She also used to enjoy fishing, before health problems reduced her mobility.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Trenton and Janie Johnson; a brother, Clemeth Trenton Johnson; husbands Anderson Jones, Lee Ellison and Tommie McMurray; a daughter Cassandra Taylor; and granddaughters Deondra Moulds and LaTasha Wineland. She is survived by her brother Henry Laverne Johnson of Oakland, California; son Thomas Eugene McMurray; and daughters Alicia Michelle Smith and Damita Danielle Manning and husband Kevin Manning, all of Des Moines; step daughters Barbara Wise and Teresa Jones; grandchildren Onterio Taylor, LaKeisha Taylor, Quinten Taylor, Aaron Taylor, Marlin McMurray and wife Angel McMurray, Janeisha Smith, Robert Smith III, Andrea Smith, Damitra Harris, Destiny Manning, Kevonna Manning, and Cassandra (Cassie) McMurray along with a host of great grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many friends from her church community.

Whether we knew Velma as a sister, mother, grandmother or friend, we will miss her, but we can feel blessed that she was part of our lives. She will continue to live in our hearts.

May she rest in peace.

Print