Vernia Vereen

A life remembered

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you"

(Isaiah 60:1)

On May 11, 2022, God called his servant, our loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and cousin Deaconess Vernia L. Vereen, to her earthly rest. Her soul has transitioned into the hands of the Father, no longer touched by this world of sin, sorrow, and pain. She was affectionately called Vernia Lee, Vern, and Lovey. She was born Vernia Lee Chestnut on September 5, 1943, in the Wampee Community to the late Solomon Chestnut and Lee Ethel Bellamy-Dozier. After her mother's passing, she was reared by her maternal grandparents Willie and Sarah Bellamy. She was the oldest sibling of three, with both of her siblings proceeding her in death, Martha Ann Dozier and David Lee Dozier.

She graduated from Chestnut Consolidated High School and made her home in Connecticut for many years. While living there she was employed at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Norwalk, Connecticut and she was also a homemaker. Years later she and her husband moved their family back to Little River, SC where she worked with the Forestry State Commission. Vernia was a loyal, faithful, dedicated, and active member of Emmanuel SDA Church until her health declined. She served in multiple capacities at Emmanuel SDA Church, including Mother of Church, Charter Member, Finance Committee, Head Deaconess, Hospitality Committee, Prison Ministry Team, and Sabbath School Teacher. For the State of South Carolina, she served as Head Deaconess Treasurer (South Atlantic Conference of SDA) and Assistant Usher Treasurer (South Atlantic Conference of SDA).

She also served as the Vice-President of the Bellamy-Vereen Family Reunion for many years. Her life was centered around her immediate family, church family, and extended family. When you visited Lovey, you were never left empty-handed; she was always feeding and giving away her sought-after preserves with love. She loved to laugh, she loved to travel, she loved gardening (green thumb could make anything grow), loved to cook and bake from scratch (never measured).

Vernia was married to the late Elder Devon Vereen, and through this union, they were blessed with seven devoted children. Sherry Vereen of Little River, SC; Tyrone Vereen (Marshelia) of Longs, SC; Brenda Vaught (Todd) of Fayetteville, NC; Tanya Knight (Charlie) of Woodbridge, VA; Arron Vereen of Little River, SC; Wayne Vereen (fiancé Kimone) of Sandy Springs, GA; Stephen Vereen (Nicole) of Longs, SC. She reared her sister's children Kristal Isbell who proceeded her in death, Tiffany Randall (Christopher) of Little River, SC; Brittany Dozier of Huntsville, AL; and Kimberly Dozier of Killeen, TX, one uncle, Arthur Bellamy of Little River, SC; one brother-in-law Wilbur Vereen (Gloria) Charlotte, NC and three sisters-in-law, Ruth Smalls of Middleton, CT, Helen Williams of Norwalk, CT and Geraldine Vereen of Longs, SC; seventeen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews (many of which she helped raise), and friends who loved and cared deeply for her.

Vernia Vereen of Little River passed on May 11, 2022. There will be a viewing held Friday May 13, 2022 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Ocean View Funeral Home and Beach Crematory, Myrtle Beach Chapel. A funeral service will be held 4:00 p.m. Saturday May 14, 2022 at Chesterfield Missionary Baptist Church in the Popular community of Longs. Burial will follow directly after the service at the Emmanuel Seven day Adventist Church in Loris. 

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