Velma Ray Harlan Brashear
Funeral services for Mrs. Velma Ray Harlan Brashear, 93, of Ruston, were held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston with Rev. Dale Oden officiating.
Burial followed in the Kilpatrick Memorial Garden Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
Velma was born November 24, 1929, in Jonesboro, to Fannie and James Harlan, and she passed away February 18, 2023, surrounded by her loving family in her home in Ruston after a brief illness.
She was affectionately known as “ Ma” to all whom loved her. After graduating from Jonesboro High School, Velma attended cosmetology school. She met the love of her life Jack Luther Brashear and became a pipeliner’s wife and traveled the country with him.
They eventually settled in Ruston where Velma taught cosmetology at Pat Goins Beauty School. She continued her career as a beautician at Village Salon in Simsboro.
Velma devoted her life to her two sons Homer and John. You could always count on Sunday dinner at her house. She was a lover of sports and never missed a grandchild’s ball game.
Velma could often be seen cheering on the Lady Techsters. She enjoyed traveling with friends and family and catching an Elvis show whenever possible. Velma was preceded in death by her husband Jack; parents; 10 brothers and sisters; grandson Jim Harlan Brashear; and great-grandson Jim Allen Brashear.
Velma is survived by her sons, Homer Brashear and wife Sandy of Simsboro and John Brashear and wife Kim of Ruston; sister, Joyce Gorham; grandchildren, Holly Taylor, Shannon Tatum, Hoyt Brashear and Jed Brashear; six great- grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of family and friends.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, at Ruston Regional Specialty Hospital of North Louisiana and at Premier Hospice for their care.
Serving as pallbearers will be Homer Brashear, John Brashear, Hoyt Brashear, Jed Brashear, Jack Walters and Timmy Tatum.
Visitation was held from 1-2 p.m., Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at the funeral home.
To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www. owensmemorialfuneralhome. com.
