On March 17, 1923, a bundle of joy was delivered to Glen Sr. and Ellen Lee Reed Ward in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.  The couple named their baby girl Velma Jean Ward.  She grew up and was educated in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, graduating from Dunbar High School with the Class of 1940.

Velma met James Bim Hill and was married in 1942 on her birthday.  This union resulted in two children, James, Jr. and Delores Ann.  Velma and James were married 59 and half years until his passing in November 8, 2001.

Velma was a member of the Christian Church at an early age.  However, after meeting a minister at an old time tent by the name of Brother Richard N. Hogan in the 30s, she was added to the Church of Christ.  She was a member of North Peoria Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma and attended until her health started to decline in November.

Velma earned a certificate in Home Care and worked as a Provider for a few years.  She enjoyed watching game shows, working word find books, watching Thunder Basketball, Sooner Football, The Young and The Restless, and most of all enjoyed talking on the telephone.  She loved being at home.  She would always say, "There is no place like home" and would proudly say, "When this house was built in 1952, I did all of the mudding, taping, and painting."

She was the center of her family, going by the nicknames Midget, Big Time, Muh, Mother, Mama, and Granny.  She kept busy each day by making several phone calls beginning before day break to be involved in decision making and solving problems for all of her family.  Velma was best known for her pound cakes, as well as cheesecakes, brown beans, sweet potatoes, sweet potato pie, pork roast and hot cabbage.

On February 16, 2017 at 12:45PM, Velma departed this life at the age of 93 in her home surrounding by her loved ones for a better place, she was from six generations.  Those waiting for her parents Glen and Ellen, husband Big, brothers: Alvin, Lawrence, Glen, and Gilbert Ward and one sister Vivian Ward, grandson Steven Tarkington, and son in-law Henry Tarkington.  Those left to cherish her memory are one son James Hill (Joyce), one daughter Delores Tarkington, three sisters: Jewayne Brown, Wichita, KS, Bernice Biglow(Alfred), Gayle Ward, Tulsa, OK, one brother Kenneth Ward (Patricia), Tulsa, OK, six grandchildren: Donna Perry (Stevie), Audrey Alexander (Gerard), Stanley Tarkington (Marquita), Tulsa, OK, Lavender Hammon, Cushing, Ok, Portia Butler (Adrian), and Demetrius Hammon, Detroit, MI, twelve great grandchildren, thirteen great-great grandchildren, one great-great-great grandchild, sister in-law Josephine Ward, numerous nieces and nephews, a host of cousins, including cousins she talked to frequently: Barbara Jackson, Gwendolyn Jackson, and Greta Stewart, longtime friends: Goldina Johnson, Spartanburg, SC, classmate Hattie Mann, Leola White, and Mary Mitchell.

Her sacred farewell will commence on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 11:00 AM in the Grand Avenue Church of Christ, located at 318 S Grand Ave, Okmulgee, OK .  Brother Warren Blakney, Pastor of North Peoria Church of Christ, Tulsa, will officiate.  Burial will follow in the Okmulgee Cemetery.

You may visit Mrs. Hill as she slumbers in sweet repose at the funeral home in Okmulgee on Friday from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM.