Velma Whitten

Following a long illness, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and faithful servant of the living God, Velma Ree (Shelton) Whitten, 75, made her heavenly transition in the early morning hours of Friday, August 4, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Stanton, AL on August 22, 1941 to parents, Thomas Andrew Shelton Sr. and Christanna Harville Shelton. She was the seventh of ten children. The family relocated to Three Rivers in 1950. She was married to Coy Lee Whitten, Sr. on June 23, 1969. Velma is survived by her beloved husband and children: son, Mark Shelton of Three Rivers; daughter, Lacheryl Shelton of Three Rivers; son, LaChanuj (Sonya) Shelton of Three Rivers; daughter, Toshycia Whitten Griggs of Los Angeles, CA; daughter, Vercysia Jorge of Three Rivers; son, Coy Whitten, Jr. of Michigan; 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Velma is also survived by siblings, Doris (Harvey) Rollerson of Chicago, IL; Geraldine (Ralph) Humes of Three Rivers; Willastyne (Sterling) Carter of Elkhart, IN; George Leonard (Lorraine) Shelton of Three Rivers; Iverna Shelton of Atlanta, GA; and Shirley Shelton of Kalamazoo. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Odessa (Luther) Mitchell, Thomas Andrew (Bruce) (Mary) Shelton, Jr., Orethia Shelton and grandson, Reenal (Skip) Shelton. Funeral services will be held at Bethel Baptist Church at 17852 S. River Rd. Three Rivers on Saturday, August 12, 2017. Family visitation will begin at 11 AM, followed by the Homegoing celebration at 12 PM.