Velma Oralee Stewart – Pool was born February 1, 1925, in Centerville, Mississippi to Ida
Beatrice and John Stewart. Velma was the middle child of 15 children born into this union. On August
9, 2023, at 2:25 pm Velma passed away in Tangipahoa, Louisiana inside her home, at the age of 98.
She met Wilmer Pool, Sr. and they were married on September 19, 1944. In this union, nine children
were born. These children were Wilmer Jr. (Lillie) Pool, Thaddeus (Joanne) Pool, Johnny (Antoinette)
Pool, Ella (Oscar) Thompson, Lorraine (Wendell) Blackburn, and Ermean Pool all of Kentwood,
Louisiana, Beverly (James) Greensberry, Audrey (Edward) Greensberry, Mary Lee (Tommy Ray) Pool- McKay all of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was a dedicated wife to Wilmer Pool Sr. until he passed away
on January 30, 2006.
After accepting Christ, Velma was baptized at Beach Hill Baptist Church in Centerville, Mississippi. After marriage, she later became a member of Quinn Chapel AME Church in Tangipahoa,
Louisiana. She served for many years as an usher and stewardess. In addition to being a hardworking
and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and more to her family. She worked often on
Saturdays and her favorite activities included attending church, cooking, baking, sewing, attending
events, and traveling around. One of the most cherished parts of her life was watching Young and the
Restless and the Bold and the Beautiful on television. While she enjoyed talking on the phone with her
family, she loved it when her grand and great-grandchildren brought their families to see her.
It was just another way of spreading her nurturing spirit to more children. Words couldn't
express how loving and inspiring she was to those around her, and her spirit lifted the atmosphere at
every family gathering. She was genuinely beautiful inside and out.
She leaves to cherish her memories, her daughters: Ermean Pool, Ella (Oscar) Thompson, Lorraine
(Wendell) Blackburn, and Beverly (James) Greensberry. Daughters-in-law, Joanne, and Antionette
Pool. Her sister, Ophelia Kinlaw of Port Arthur, Texas, and her brother, David Stewart of Baton Rouge,
Louisiana. She has a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended
family.
She is survived by her children Wilmer Jr.,
Thaddeus Pool, Johnny Pool, Audrey Pool-Greensbury, and Mary Lee Pool-McKay her sisters were
Eunice, Mary Louise, Gladys, Eula, Jennie, Cornelus, Grace and Rose Lee her brothers were Ralph, Willie, Curtis, and John. Her daughter in law, Lillie Pool, her son in laws, Tommy Ray McKay Sr, Eugene
Thompson Sr, and Edward Greensberry Sr, her grandchildren Cornell Pool, Eugene "Mond" Thompson,
Tommy Jr. McKay, and five great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Wilmer
Pool, Sr. parents Ida Beatrice and John Stewart.