Vergia Willis

Vergia Lee Willis was born in Dogtooth Bend, Illinois on August 1, 1929, the seventh of ten children to Jacob and Susie Tolbert. Vergia was named by her older sister Rosie Lee who claimed that Vergia was "her baby." "That's the way they did it in the country" she explained. Her father Jacob would regularly sit the children down and read the scriptures to them, teaching them to believe and fear the Lord. The family attended Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Cashe, Illinois, where her father served as a deacon. It was there that she accepted Christ as her savior. As a young child Vergia had a taste for the finer things in life. She despised farm work was constantly taking food to neighbors, as her mother requested. She had dreams of moving to the city, wearing beautiful dresses and she was infamous amongst her siblings for trying to get out of work on the farm. Her sister Rosie Lee confessed that they once locked Belle (as she was called) in the smoke house when they were tired of her not helping. She refused to take up sewing and when asked by her father how she would mend her children's clothes she said she would work hard and pay someone to do it. In 1944, at the age of 15, she moved to Cairo, Illinois. In 1945 she moved to Omaha, Nebraska. She worked at the Cudahy Packing Plant. It was there that she made some friendships that have lasted a lifetime. She loved to dance. She would go dancing after a long day at work and a nap. In 1948, Vergia married Sydney Taylor (Michael Fray) a sharp dressing man from the island of Jamaica. From this union was born two children; Willie Mae and David O. She continued to work at the "packing house" as they called it, but after being laid off, she trained as a cosmetologist at the Althouse School of Beauty. Her first entrepreneurial endeavor was a beauty shop in the basement of her residence on 24th Street. Vergia later joined Grace Tabernacle, Church of God in Christ were she served as Missionary and State Hospitality President under the leadership of Bishop Bradford. In 1953, she married Mr. James Willis and from that union Sharon Rene' was born. In 1964, they moved to Denver, Colorado. With her she brought her entrepreneurial spirit and was the sole proprietor of The Dahlia Coiffures, a beauty shop located in the former Dahlia Shopping Center in East Denver. She was known all over town for her "bone straight" press-n-curls. Vergia enjoyed Denver and was happy to make it her home. She joined Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, under the leadership of Reverend Earnest Lewis. She later became a deaconess, a symbol of her humility, servitude and steadfastness. Vergia enjoyed beautiful clothes, shoes, and hats, in fact she was known for it. But although she took much pride in her outward appearance, she was equally concerned with her spiritual armor. She read the Bible daily and she stayed on her knees in prayer. Her generosity and love was evident to all who knew her and many of her children's friends considered her a second mother because of the way she welcomed and loved on them. She was very active in the rearing of her grandchildren and had a special relationship with each of them. She may not have known how to sew but she knit her family tight with Sunday dinners after church with perfectly "browned" cornbread. She prepared fried chicken for the road trips to Omaha, sweet potato pies for everyone to take home on Christmas. Vergia's family will remember her first and foremost as a woman who loved God. Reflecting on her life they saw a determined woman that followed her dreams. "She operated with confidence and did everything with a certain grace," "She was a woman of God who loved people," "She taught me how to pray," "She would feed anyone, and always said, 'you never know you liable to be feeding Jesus.'" Vergia and her siblings remained close till the end, in fact she remained close to that strong foundation she got from Dogtooth Bend. She taught her children and grandchildren to love and fear the Lord and she gave freely like her mother did of the food in her pantry. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:1-4 On October 21, 2014 Vergia went from labor to reward. She was the last child of Susie and Jacob Tolbert to depart this earth to be with her Lord and Savior. She joins eternity with her bothers; Jessie, Mark and James Tolbert, along with her loving sisters; Daisy Johnson, Rosie Walker and Susie Boykins. She was the last member of the Tolbert family legacy. She leaves to cherish her memory; daughters; Willie Mae Taylor and Sharon Rene' Scott, Sons; David O. Taylor (Julia) and Emanuel Fray. Daughters in love; Paula Powell, Aleina Perry, Silverene McClain (Denver, Colorado) and Laurie A. Johnson (Omaha, Nebraska). Five grandchildren, three great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 10/31/2014 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 11/1/2014 at 11:00 AM - Unity Church of God In Christ - 2428 Odgen Street, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 11/1/2014 - Interment following the Celebration of Life Fairmount Cemetery - 430 South Quebec Street, Denver, CO