Velda P. Carson

Memorial Visitation:
Saturday, March 25, 2023
10:00 to 11:00 am
Meridith Funeral Home
Pocahontas, IL.

Memorial Service:
Saturday, March 25, 2023
11:00 am
Meridith Funeral Home, Pocahontas, IL

Velda P. Carson, 92, of Greenville, IL, formerly of Pocahontas, IL, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2023, with her family by her side.

Velda was born October 7, 1930, to Joseph W. and Sadie L. (nee Ziller) Taylor, in Gary, IN. She married the love of her life, Charles J. Carson, on January 15, 1950, in Greenville, IL. A marriage lasting over 72 beautiful years.

She grew up in East Chicago, IN, attending Franklin Grade School and Washington High School in the Sunnyside Neighborhood. Her family moved to Pocahontas in 1946, when her dad was hired to build St. Nicholas Church. She finished High School in Pocahontas, graduating in 1948. She then moved to Champaign to start Nursing School, where she made many good friends, however, left to get married, and hoped to complete her schooling at a later date.

After marrying Charles, they lived in Greenville, then moved to Pocahontas in the early 1950’s where they raised their family. Always wanting a big family, they had five children. She raised them all to be well mannered, respectful, and brought up in the Church, attending Sunday School and Church weekly. The first to rise and the last to bed, she sacrificed her needs for her children’s. Velda was a great cook, often disguising food so her kids would eat it; and an even better baker, with her specialty being her Cinnamon Pinwheel Coffee Cake and her various cookies, all from scratch. Her children woke up on holidays to the smell of their mother’s cooking. Velda would often make food for the Lodge Chicken Dinners, all the Church functions, and baked for the school bake sales.

She was also a talented artist, creating many portraits and sketches along with the original Chief Powhatan and Princess Pocahontas, for Powhatan Restaurant. She created artwork for the school carnivals, concerts, and plays. She loved to travel, visiting 18 states, and spending a month in Hawaii. She was an avid bowler and participated on the Grantfork Thursday night ladies bowling league with her friends. She also volunteered on Memorial Day at Robinson Cemetery for many years.

Velda is survived by her children, David (Jean Marie) Carson, Bent, NM, Deborah (Delmar) Smail, Hillsboro, IL, Cheryl (Steve) Mardis, Bloomington, IL, Valerie (Jeff) Higginbotham, Florissant, MO, Veronica (George) Schaufelberger, New Orleans, LA; twelve grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles J. Carson; parents, Joseph W. and Sadie Taylor; three siblings and their spouses; a nephew and niece-in-law.

Memorials may be made to Robinson Cemetery or Pocahontas United Methodist Church.

Memorial Visitation: Saturday, March 25, 2023, 10:00 to 11:00 am, at Meridith Funeral Home, Pocahontas, IL.

Memorial Service: Saturday, March 25, 2023, 11:00 am, Meridith Funeral Home, Pocahontas, IL

Clergy: Pastor Dee Armes, Greenville First Christian Church

Interment: Robinson Cemetery

Meridith Funeral Home, Pocahontas, IL.