Viola Lucretia Maxey was born to Warnell and Daisy Maxey on August 27, 1923 in Belleview, Florida of Marion County. After the death of her father, Warnell Maxey, Viola was loved and raised by Deacon Alonzo and Daisy Nunn. She attended Belleview-Santos Elementary School in Santos, Florida and Howard High School in Ocala, Florida, both in Marion County.
At an early age, Viola accepted Jesus Christ and was married by the age of 19 to the late Albert Jenkins. From this union, they had three children: Albert Jr., Virginia Jenkins Grant, and Polly Jenkins Baptiste. Later, Viola was left to raise three children alone. It was at this time that she took a leap of faith. In 1950 having only $15.00 and a borrowed suit case, Viola decided to travel by train to Miami, Florida. Her dream was to become self-sustained and to provide a better life for herself and her children. Through the help of God, Viola did just that. She would later meet a widower, the late Arthur Isaac. With her three children and Arthur’s four children, Arthur Jr., Jerome, Affie, and Mary Lou, Arthur and Viola became a blended family. From their union, they added Warnell and Veronica.
It was in 1957 Viola Vickers began her career at the South-Florida State Hospital as a Psychiatric Aide. She later was promoted to a Charge Aide. Thereafter she became a Treatment Rehabilitative Supervisor. During this time, she decided to once again improve the quality of life for her family by going back to school to get a GED. After earning a GED, she was able to receive her promotions, where she worked for 30 years and retired. As a well-respected employee, Viola was able to help many of her family members, neighbors, and church members gain employment at the hospital. Her employer hired many upon her recommendation.
Viola Maxey Vickers, affectionately called “Mother Vickers”, was truly a person of influence that changed the lives of countless individuals near and far. She was gifted in encouraging family, friends, and strangers. She was a prayer warrior, Bible teacher, and marriage/family counselor. Many would go to Mother Vickers for advice for living, for both the young and the old. Viola would always say, “If you take care of God’s business, He will take care of your business”. She also would tell everyone she would meet, “Let nothing separate you from the love of God”. Viola believed in family, and her family is a testimony of the life she lived in God taking care of them and his inseparable love.
Viola grew up in Ramah Baptist Church in Belleview, Florida. In Miami, as an adult, she became an active member of Greater New Bethel Baptist Church in Miami, Florida under the leadership of the late Reverend W.K. Smith. Today Rev. Wallace serves as her Pastor of Greater New Bethel Missionary Baptiste Church. Over the years, Viola served as an usher, choir member, deaconess, mother of the church and various other leadership roles.
On Friday, November 9, 2018, Viola slipped into eternity to be with the one she loves the most, Jesus. She would always say, “if you hear tell of me gone, don’t worry about me. I’m just another child of God gone home”. Her memory and her words of wisdom will continue to reverberate in the hearts of all who knew her.
Viola was the second oldest of 13 children, seven in which preceded her in death: Johnny Nunn, Alonzo “Monk” Nunn, Jr., Isaac Nunn, Rebecca “Sister” Johnson, Eddie Nunn, W.B. Maxey, and Dorothy Fluitt. She is survived by the following siblings: Arlington “Sonny” (Ruth) Nunn, Lerosa Dixon, Ray (Ann) Nunn, and Joyce Jenkins. Her children that survive her are Pastor Warnell (Dr. Robin) Vickers, Deaconess Veronica (Minister Roy) King, Affie Holmes, and raised by her grandmother Dr. Cherry, (Dr. Tony) Simmons. She is survived by 18 grandchildren, with a host of great-grands and great, great grandchildren.
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