Vera Faye Thompson

Vera Faye Grimes was born February 10,1947 to Gustavia Swann Grimes and Jeffrey Odell Grimes in the home of her paternal aunt Margie in Chopin, LA two months early.

She was moved to Cleveland, Ohio at eleven months old and raised by Edith and Nathaniel Duell. At two years old she was featured in Life Magazine in an article done on the renown Karamu House where she attended pre-school. She was the first child under two years old admitted in their school and excelled. When enrolled at Bolton Elementary, she went straight to first grade skipping kindergarten.

Vera loved school and celebrated 11 years of perfect attendance at graduation in January 1965 in the top 10 percent of her class from East Technical High School at seventeen. She continued to experience   “firsts” by being the first female to attend a computer program writing school, graduating in a year as a certified computer programmer.  She found it impossible to find work in the field, being a black female. She found work in banks during the day and pursued her dreams of dance by night.  She was the first dancer at the Empire Lounge after winning a dance contest at the Red Carpet. She went on to choreograph backup dancers at the famed Leo’s Casino and worked with the OJays, Aretha Franklin, Sly and the Family Stone and others.

Vera fell in love and married her childhood friend, Joseph C. James and had two beautiful daughters, Kimberly and Karyn. Although in love, their marriage was plagued by his army injuries, a lack of funds and infidelity. They finally divorced and Vera started a job at Ohio Bell as a long distance operator. While at work, she got a telegram that changed everything.  It was not until then that Vera realized Edith and Nathaniel were not her parents. She went to Shreveport, LA and met her father for the first time. A three-day trip turned into two months and she bonded with her father. Vera dropped her first name to honor her father who called her Faye from the time they met. Five years later, she packed up per girls and moved to Fresno, CA where they met her mother for the first time to her knowledge.  Her sister Linda had sworn to find her and did.

Raised as an only child, Faye found herself the eldest of 5 brothers and six sisters. One older brother was by another mother. A six week leave of absence turned into a six-year move. A short marriage led to a flight to San Diego and a run into the arms of Jesus in July, 1980 that truly changed not only their environment, but their lives forever. Totally dedicated to the Lord, Faye was appointed Financial Secretary at North Park Apostolic Church under Bishop Ray M. Trout, and worked for the then Treasurer, Eld Charles Patmon, Sr. She also worked with the Deacon Board and taught at least seven of them the duties of Deaconship and how to accurately count the contributions of the congregation and log them into computer files. Faye also taught Sunday school for over 30 years. She wrote several plays she starred and directed in. Her love for people and the Word of God gave her an uncanny insight and wisdom that many of her students benefitted from. 

Faye found work at City Schools and eventually at Dept. of Defense (Navy Facilities)  where she worked until she retired after 34 years in the Contracts Dept. While working on reviews for the Navy Purchase Card program, she met and married Larry G. Thompson in August, 2004 who she loved and remained with until her death. 

She is survived by her husband, Larry, a step-son Larry Jr., his wife and five children; her two daughters and five grand-children, Andrea, Deidre, Christopher, Joseph and Aliczandryia; one great-granddaughter Azaylia.

Her brothers Claude, Stark, Quincy and Timothy, her sisters, Emma Jean, Linda, Gustavia, Florita, Alberta and Gertrude, and a host of nieces, nephews, grand-neices and nephews and a host of family and friends.

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