Velma Faydean Lester Birdsell

Heaven became a little sweeter on July 4, 2010, when Velma Faydean Birdsell was received by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 8, at Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station. A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m., July 9, at College Heights Assembly of God Church, 4100 Old College Road, Bryan. Interment will follow at Restever Memorial Park in Bryan.

Velma Faydean was born July 28, 1932, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the daughter of Edgar and Erma Lester. She worked as a supervisor for Agricultural Communications at Texas A&M University and retired in July 1994.

She married her sweetheart, John David Birdsell on June 15, 1951, and just celebrated 59 years of marriage. To their union two daughters, Delaina and Cheryl, were born.

At a very early age she was taught by her Godly mother about a Savior, Jesus Christ. She soon learned to love Him also and accepted Him as her personal Savior. She was born in the midst of the Great Depression and there was no means of transportation in her family, except by walking. This did not deter the family from being in church, walking every Sunday seven miles each way, one twin sister on her mother's hip and she on the other with her other siblings in tow beside them. She soon dedicated her life in service to her Lord. She loved the elderly and had a great rapport with them. Early in her teen years, she began to work with the youth of the church which carried on after her marriage. She became a devoted youth leader and Sunday School teacher. After moving to Bryan, she was elected the youth leader at College Heights Assembly of God Church and served in this capacity for approximately 20 years. She also taught the junior boys and girls Sunday School class. She then became leader of the Missionettes, a group of young girls of the church. From these three ministries came future ministers, Sunday School teachers and devoted church workers. Combined with these ministries she also visited the sick and elderly in their homes, hospitals, and nursing homes. In her later years, she accepted the position of Sunday School secretary and served in this capacity until her death. She was a devoted wife and mother, raising two daughters who have followed her in dedicating their lives in service to God and others.

Velma Faydean was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Charles Edgar Lester, and twin sister, Thelma Nadine Hensley.

She is survived by her husband, John Birdsell; daughters, Delaina and husband Calvin Gilreath of Gilbert, AZ, Cheryl and husband Jay Buckler of Bryan, Texas; two brothers, Arthur and Wilburn Lester and one sister, Myrtle Thomason, all of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Velma Faydean leaves behind three grandchildren: Dwain Sparling, Amanda Sparling, and Jennifer Buckler, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, if so desired, the family requests memorials can be made to the Assemblies of God Bible Alliance, c/o College Heights Assembly of God Church, 4100 Old College Road, Bryan, Texas 77801.