Velma was born on May 9, 1957 in Norfolk, Virginia. She attended Norfolk Public Schools, graduating from Booker T. Washington in 1975. She went on to attend Norfolk State University. She later entered the United States Army where she served eight years and was honorably discharged due to a medical injury. She was a member of The Mount in Chesapeake, VA, where she served in The Unity Choir for 20 years. Many will remember her as a gentle, kind woman with a hardy laugh that would make heads turn as it bellowed out. Velma was diagnosed with renal disease in 2001 and it was at that time she had to relinquish her full-time employment as a CNA and in her later years a Customer Service Representative with ABC Auction. She fought this disease like a true soldier for 19 years, never complaining, just always armored and ready for the next battle. Velma is survived by her mother, Mrs. Evelyn D. Drew, her cousin Mrs. Eugenia Davis, her sister, Lisa Drew-Fowler, 2 daughters, Monique L. Evans (Javar Evans) and Joardan E.M. Thornton, three grandchildren, Breyana J. Stewart, Amaya J. Evans, Canaan J. Evans, and her beloved granddog Heathcliffe, her niece and nephew, Jada J. Fowler and Malcolm X. Fowler and a host of friends who will miss her dearly. A special thanks to Andrea Edwards, Nina Canady, Shirley Broom, and Velda Bell, whom she loved like sisters.

The family would like to give a special thanks to her renal doctors, Dr. Steven Lewinski and Dr. Daniel Rakowski, as well as Joanne Morris and the rest of the staff at the DaVita Dialysis Center who were with her on her medical journey providing care and support for many years.