Velma A. Hunt

Velma Alane Hunt, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend died on Thursday, February 12th, 2015 at age 88. She was born on November 18, 1926, to Odie and Gerebia Brooks in East St. Louis, Illinois. She graduated from Lincoln High School in East St. Louis, attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for 2 years and transferred to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. After completing her degree in Education, she returned to East St. Louis to teach. She met her future husband, Alexander Hunt, Captain, US Army, after a 3 year courtship through letters. Six months later, he proposed and they were married on September 4, 1954. They enjoyed 60 years of marriage. Velma traveled with her husband and two daughters all over the world: Ft. Benning, Georgia, Virginia State College, Ft. Lee, Virginia, where their oldest daughter, Cheryl Alane, was born, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where their youngest daughter, Carla Diane, was born, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Monrovia, Liberia, Washington DC, Vientiane, Laos, Ft. Dix, New Jersey and El Paso Texas. Everywhere they went, Velma tastefully set up their home, often with handmade crafts and artwork. Velma was passionate about teaching. She taught 1st grade in East St. Illinois, taught a small international class using Montessori school methodology in her home in Monrovia, Liberia, taught 4th grade in Washington DC and also taught at the American School of Vientiane. With both daughters in college, she returned to college, herself, for certification to teach in the state of Texas. She spent the next thirteen years as a 1st grade teacher at Clardy Elementary School in El Paso, Texas, a position that she thoroughly loved. She developed such a reputation at Clardy that parents often requested her as a teacher for their children and 2nd grade teachers often requested her students. She was an outstanding teacher by all standards. Some of the parents have maintained contact with her up to the present, informing her of graduations from high school, college and notices of employment. She sought no praise or recognition. Her reward and satisfaction came from seeing her students excel. She was admired and respected by all who knew her. Velma is predeceased by her daughter, Cheryl Nixon; her parents; her sister, Lucille; her brother, Tilford Brooks; and her sister, Christine Wallace. She is survived by her husband, Alexander Hunt, Col. Ret, El Paso, TX; her daughter, Carla Hunt (Andrew), Yarmouth, Maine; her grandchildren: Clayvon Nixon, New York; Christopher Nixon, (Kimberley), Baltimore, Maryland; Caitlyn Nixon, Baltimore, Maryland; and Musseit M’Bareck, Yarmouth, Maine; great-grandsons: Caleb and Cameron Nixon, Baltimore, Maryland; brother-in-law, Edward Wallace, Bethesda, Maryland. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m., Monday, February 23, 2015 at Sunset Funeral Home East, 750 N. Carolina Dr. Funeral Service will begin at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at St. Pauls Methodist Church, 7000 Edgemere Dr. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. A special thank you to the staff of Global Hospice Care and Caring Senior Service of El Paso. In lieu of flowers, please support your local Alzheimer’s Association or breast cancer organization.