Velma J. Minnis

Born Velma Jean Sykes, July 9th, 1951, in Luxora, Arkansas, Ms. Velma, a mother of two, a grandmother of 10 and a great grandmother of 11, the  daughter of Queen Ola Washington of Blytheville, Arkansas and Johnny Coleman of Luxora, Arkansas.
Ms. Velma relocated from the south in 1954 with her mother and her three siblings, Doris Trahan, Betty Sykes and Tommie Sykes, to the central district of Seattle, Washington.
Ms. Velma grew up to be a seasoned Seattleite. A young mother of two, her son Lovell (Tank) Sykes and her daughter Bridgette (Babysis) Chandler, whom Ms. Velma made wine out of water for, were her heartbeats.

As a teenage mother Ms. Velma was mindful about not wanting her children to experience the economic struggles of being black and poor in Seattle, and showing them what they could achieve, and what they should not settle for. ‘Get out of your way and go be what you were meant to be’. ‘don’t let anybody tell you what you can’t do!’ she would tell Lovell. 'A closed mouth don't get fed' she would often remind Bridgette

Ms. Velma role-modeled to her children a desire to be more and do more with life, and to always strive to be independent in their thoughts, not to be led but to lead, the will to stay true to self, and stay loyal to those you love. ‘Family isn’t always your blood’ she would remind her children. ‘Keep it real, now!’ she would often be heard telling a friend, or stranger. Not a throwback or a copycat, Ms. Velma was authentically her. A genuine gem.

Ms. Velma was young in her spirit and was revered for her zest for life and being a strong Black woman of many unique attributes. One was her flare for fashion, and being a woman with stylish sophistication; she loved her leathers and furs, her hats and her jewelry, and her brass and glass furnishings!

In 1976 Ms. Velma met Anthony “Tony” Minnis of Hutchinson, Kansas, and later married Tony in 1987 and became Mrs. Velma Minnis.
When the Sykes and Minnis families were blended, a lifelong bond of love was established, and Ms. Velma became the daughter in love to Mr. Roland Minnis of Pratt, Kansas, and sister in love to Beverly Thomas-Williams of Pratt, Kansas, and mother in love to Anntoinette Minnis, of Wichita, Kansas. Ms. Velma and Tony were married from 1987 up to her transition on April first. 38 years long.

Ms. Velma was a no-nonsense woman, very candid, with no filters, no smoke screens and mirrors. Her raw and real was one of a kind. Her grand and great grandchildren hold her in reverence, she is their Motherdear. Our Matriarch! A true Queen of Queens.

Ms. Velma’s family and friends knew her for her get it how you live; make something out of nothing; against all odds, and trust no one mindsets. Her genuine presence transcends generations, young and old share the same sentiments in regard to how she showed up in their lives. ‘I love Velma, she always keeps it real!’… ‘Aunt Velma is the real deal, I love her!’.'Cousin was it!'

Her unwavering independence and strength of character, along with her ability to keep it real with you and show unconditional love to her loved ones is what Ms. Velma was admired and respected for, and what will be missed the most.

Ms. Velma embodied the Angela Davis quote, ‘I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept’. She lived it to her last days.

Ms. Velma was proceeded in her transition by her mother Queen Ola Washington, her grandmother, Eldora Brown, Her sisters Doris Trahan, Ethel Washington, Shirley Washington-Jack, Brenda Washington, her brother Tommi Sykes, and her father-in-love Roland Minnis.

Ms. Velma leaves to mourn her transition and to build on her legacy, her son Lovell Sykes and her daughter Bridgette Chandler, her ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, her four siblings, her sisters in love Linda Jones and Debra Hall, as well as her many nieces and nephews, cousins and loved ones..

Ms. Velma passed away on April 1st with her loved ones by her side.

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