Velma Lou Tucker Ivory Legacy
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Thank you for visiting the legacy fundraiser page to celebrate the life of Velma Louella Tucker Ivory.
You're invited to join in celebrating Velma Lou by checking out photos, memories and perhaps sharing some of your own on Facebook and Instagram. Simply follow the hashtags: #VelmaLou and #MablesMama
Twenty years ago on November 19th, 1997, Velma Louella Tucker Ivory (Velma Lou) received her angel wings. This year, Velma's one and only child and living legacy, Mable, honors the life of her mother by raising money for charities helping at-risk young people as well as to complete and publish Velma's memoir.
About Velma Lou
Velma Lou (affectionately known as 'Lou') was born on Thanksgiving Day on November 26, 1937 in the segregated South, in the rural town of Mason, Tennessee. Velma grew up on a farm and was the third of nine children. At the tender age of thirteen, she lost her mother, Mable Rhodes Tucker. (Later in life, Velma would name her only child, Mable, after her mother).
Lou began picking cotton at the age of four, along with her siblings, to support the family. (In fact, in the segregated South, the Black children had a different school calendar, which correlated with the harvesting season for cotton and other crops). At the age of seventeen, Velma was in the fields one day in the hot sun, put her hoe down and made a declaration to her younger sister Willie Dean that she would never pick cotton again. Soon after, Velma would graduate from Mason high school and enroll at Tennessee State University.
Understanding that education is the pathway out of poverty and the crossroads to social and economic advancement, Velma worked her way through college and completed her bachelor's degree from Tennessee State University. Velma would then move to Cleveland, Ohio, where she earned her master's degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University. Velma would spend the latter part of her social work career working as a clinical coordinator with at-risk young people at the Youth Development Center in Hudson, Ohio.
In 1992, Velma Lou was diagnosed with breast cancer. She would begin working on a memoir, which would tell her life story as well as provide wisdom and advice on how families and friends should care for their loved ones afflicted with serious illness. Her memoir, recorded on a series of audio cassette tapes, remains unfinished. A portion of the funds from this legacy fundraiser will be used to complete Velma Lou's memoir.
Non-Profit Organizations benefitting from Velma Lou Legacy Fundraiser
(1) Families and Friends of Lousiana's Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) - Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the world. FFLIC's mission is to create a better life for all of Louisiana’s youth, especially those involved in or targeted by the juvenile justice system.
Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) is a grassroots membership-based organization working to transform the systems that put children at risk of prison. Through empowerment, leadership development, and training FFLIC strives to keep children from going to prison and support those who have and their families.
For more information on FFLIC, visit their website at: Families & Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children
(2) Sunrise Drop-In Center (Cardinal McCloskey Services) in the South Bronx, New York City
Since July 2009, the Sunrise Drop-In Center has been servicing homeless, runaway and at-risk young people. The center offers a warm and inviting location for young people, who are “at risk” including but not limited to, those currently in foster care or who have aged out, young parents, victims of abuse, youth involved in the criminal or juvenile justice system, or LGBTQ youngsters.
The goal of the program is to protect young people between the ages of 14-24 and, whenever possible, to reunite them with their families through an integrated network of services. When reunification is not possible, the program aims to protect and help them progress towards independent living.
For more information about the Sunrise Drop-In Center, visit their website at: Sunrise Drop-In Center
In addition, a small portion of the funds raised will go to support the completion of Velma Lou's memoir.
Thank you for uplifting the legacy of Velma Lou and making her life's work and voice everlasting. Your love and support is greatly appreciated.
You're invited to join in celebrating Velma Lou by checking out photos, memories and perhaps sharing some of your own on Facebook and Instagram. Simply follow the hashtags: #VelmaLou and #MablesMama
Twenty years ago on November 19th, 1997, Velma Louella Tucker Ivory (Velma Lou) received her angel wings. This year, Velma's one and only child and living legacy, Mable, honors the life of her mother by raising money for charities helping at-risk young people as well as to complete and publish Velma's memoir.
About Velma Lou
Velma Lou (affectionately known as 'Lou') was born on Thanksgiving Day on November 26, 1937 in the segregated South, in the rural town of Mason, Tennessee. Velma grew up on a farm and was the third of nine children. At the tender age of thirteen, she lost her mother, Mable Rhodes Tucker. (Later in life, Velma would name her only child, Mable, after her mother).
Lou began picking cotton at the age of four, along with her siblings, to support the family. (In fact, in the segregated South, the Black children had a different school calendar, which correlated with the harvesting season for cotton and other crops). At the age of seventeen, Velma was in the fields one day in the hot sun, put her hoe down and made a declaration to her younger sister Willie Dean that she would never pick cotton again. Soon after, Velma would graduate from Mason high school and enroll at Tennessee State University.
Understanding that education is the pathway out of poverty and the crossroads to social and economic advancement, Velma worked her way through college and completed her bachelor's degree from Tennessee State University. Velma would then move to Cleveland, Ohio, where she earned her master's degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University. Velma would spend the latter part of her social work career working as a clinical coordinator with at-risk young people at the Youth Development Center in Hudson, Ohio.
In 1992, Velma Lou was diagnosed with breast cancer. She would begin working on a memoir, which would tell her life story as well as provide wisdom and advice on how families and friends should care for their loved ones afflicted with serious illness. Her memoir, recorded on a series of audio cassette tapes, remains unfinished. A portion of the funds from this legacy fundraiser will be used to complete Velma Lou's memoir.
Non-Profit Organizations benefitting from Velma Lou Legacy Fundraiser
(1) Families and Friends of Lousiana's Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) - Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the world. FFLIC's mission is to create a better life for all of Louisiana’s youth, especially those involved in or targeted by the juvenile justice system.
Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) is a grassroots membership-based organization working to transform the systems that put children at risk of prison. Through empowerment, leadership development, and training FFLIC strives to keep children from going to prison and support those who have and their families.
For more information on FFLIC, visit their website at: Families & Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children
(2) Sunrise Drop-In Center (Cardinal McCloskey Services) in the South Bronx, New York City
Since July 2009, the Sunrise Drop-In Center has been servicing homeless, runaway and at-risk young people. The center offers a warm and inviting location for young people, who are “at risk” including but not limited to, those currently in foster care or who have aged out, young parents, victims of abuse, youth involved in the criminal or juvenile justice system, or LGBTQ youngsters.
The goal of the program is to protect young people between the ages of 14-24 and, whenever possible, to reunite them with their families through an integrated network of services. When reunification is not possible, the program aims to protect and help them progress towards independent living.
For more information about the Sunrise Drop-In Center, visit their website at: Sunrise Drop-In Center
In addition, a small portion of the funds raised will go to support the completion of Velma Lou's memoir.
Thank you for uplifting the legacy of Velma Lou and making her life's work and voice everlasting. Your love and support is greatly appreciated.
Organizer
Mable Ivory
Organizer
New York, NY
