Winnie Starr Vermillion

Winifred Starr Davis Vermillion “Winnie”, loving mother, sister, grandmother and aunt passed away unexpectedly on September 13th 2011 after being seriously ill for 25 years. Words cannot express how greatly she will be missed. She was so deeply loved by all that knew her, especially her family.

Winnie was born on December 13th 1946 in Miami, Florida to the late Erma Starr Davis and Charles R. Davis. Winnie was the oldest of three children. As a child, she enjoyed dance lessons, skating and piano lessons and she excelled at anything she did. She was also involved in many school and church activities, as well as Teen Club. She graduated from Wheaton High School in Wheaton, Maryland and went on to continue her education at Montgomery County College. After college she worked for the FBI through Control Data in Maryland. She was married on August 19, 1967 to John Vermillion.

After getting married, Winnie and John moved to Kettering, Ohio where they had their first daughter, Hope Marie and son, Michael Wayne. They then moved to Appleton, Wisconsin where their youngest daughter, Lisa Ann, was born. The family moved to Marietta, Georgia and eventually settled in Columbus, Ohio. Winnie worked as a loving, dedicated mother and wife caring for her family and did volunteer work in her spare time. Her marriage eventually ended in divorce at which time she started to run a daycare in her home. Winnie was wonderful with children and was very gifted in that area. She just had a special way with them and they all loved her. In 1986 she was struck with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (later diagnosed with Lyme disease) and eventually became so ill she had to stop working. When that time came she had her wonderful children to care for her. She couldn’t have raised more caring, loving children.

Over the past 25 years Winnie never gave up hope that she would get better and although she got discouraged a lot, she never got depressed over it. Through all the pain, fatigue and weakness she always tried to have a smile on her face. She was so appreciative of every little thing anyone did for her. She felt guilty about needing so much help and was always apologizing for it. Winnie, in spite of her very debilitating illness, tried her best to enjoy life. She had a wonderful sense of humor and never complained about her health issues or felt sorry for herself. She tried to always focus on others and their needs. She was the best mother, sister and friend anyone could ask for. She was a great listener and always had words of wisdom to offer. She had a bubbly, outgoing personality and she loved to laugh. Winnie never met a stranger. She loved people and would talk to anyone anywhere…to the point where it would embarrass her children. Had she been healthier, she would have done great things for the world, being a true activist at heart. But even with her declining health, she had an incredibly compassionate heart and truly made a difference in this world for so many people, especially in her family and those who knew her well. She has left a legacy of courage, faith, love, kindness, selflessness, sacrifice, compassion and strength.

Winnie is survived by her three children, Hope Vermillion Martinez and husband, Marty of Cape Coral, Florida; Michael Vermillion and wife, Carla of Columbus, Ohio; Lisa Vermillion of Plantation, Florida; two grandsons, Zachary and Alexander Martinez; two sisters, Charlene Davis Babyak and husband, George, of Southwest Ranches, Florida and Pamela Davis Kirk of Weston, Florida; aunt, Pauline Starr King of N. Canton, Ohio; nephew, Paul Price and wife Kim; niece, Bethany Vermillion; nephew, Stephen Vermillion and wife Christian, of Virginia. Winnie was preceded in death by her very sweet mother, Erma Starr Davis and father, Charles R. Davis; loving aunts, Neva Starr Wallick, Hazel Starr Berridge and Helen Davis Schmauch; loving uncle, Robert Starr

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 17th at 1:30pm at Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 2401 SW 64th Ave., Davie, FL 33317. In lieu of flowers please send donations to The Christian Appalachian Project http://www.christianapp.org/