Verda Mae Ramsey

Verda Mae Johnson Ramsey

February 27, 1929 – August 25, 2026

A Life of Faith, Courage, Independence, Family & Love

Verda Mae Johnson Ramsey was born on February 27, 1929, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. At six years old, she left the South with her mother, Frankie Lomax Johnson, father, Oscar Johnson, her grandmother, Carrie Johnson and her grandfather, Clarence Lomax beginning a journey that would shape not only her own life, but the lives of the generations who came after her.

Frankie, Oscar, Carrie and Clarence made the courageous decision to leave the South in search of greater opportunity and a better life for their family. Like so many African-American families who made the journey west, they were searching for freedom, opportunity and the chance to build something different for their children.

They found that new beginning in California. And California became home.

A Foundation of Faith

From an early age, Verda was surrounded by faith and family. She grew up attending Taylor Memorial Methodist Church and other churches, where faith became an important part of her life and remained a source of strength throughout the years.

She carried those early lessons with her as she became a mother, raised her daughters, and built a life of her own. Faith was not something Verda simply talked about. It was woven into the way she lived—with perseverance, responsibility, and a belief that you kept going, even when life was not easy.

That faith, first nurtured in a little girl in Arkansas and strengthened through the years, became part of the inheritance she passed down to her daughters and grandchildren.

It is a legacy that continues.

Building a Life in Oakland

Verda grew up surrounded by family and developed deep roots in Oakland. Along with her mother, grandmother, uncle and siblings, she settled in Oakland where they bought, fixed and sold homes. At a time when opportunities for Black families were often limited, they were able to purchase, own and sell property in and around West Oakland. These accomplishments reflect the type of family they were—determined, resourceful, hardworking and unwilling to let circumstances decide what was possible for their family.

Verda carried that same spirit throughout her life. She believed in taking care of yourself, doing things the right way, and making something of what you had.

A Career Built on Numbers

Verda had a natural gift for numbers. She loved mathematics and had incredible attention to detail. Anyone who knew Verda learned that she balanced her personal checkbook to the penny.

She put those talents to work during a 35-year career with the United States Navy at the Oakland Naval Supply, where she worked as an accountant and managed a staff. She retired in 1989 and cared her mother.

Verda was precise, dependable and on time.

Her Greatest Work: Family

For all that Verda carried out in her career, her greatest source of pride was her family.

She was married to Rev. Joel Ramsey which she shared beautiful memories with and welcomed her first daughter, Shirley Ramsey. She was a young widow but found love again and welcomed her second daughter, Denise Ramsey (Henry).

She was the proud of her two daughters and with the love and support of her mother, Frankie, Verda raised her daughters and worked hard to give them opportunities that earlier generations could only have hoped for.

She taught them through the way she lived:

Be strong. Stand on your own. Work hard. Have faith. And keep moving forward.

Verda was one of six siblings. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Oscar and Edward Johnson, and her sister, Frankie Howell. She leaves behind her brother, Larry Johnson of Atlanta, and her sister, Shirley Compton of Oakland.

Her family was the center of her world. She loved her grandchildren, Omar Johnson, Eurasia Williams, and Chloe Suggitt, and great grandchildren Calvin and Devon and Kiera Johnson. She took great joy in watching the next generation grow.

Like she did for her mother, Verda was fortunate to be taken care of by her family until the end.

Little Things That Made Her Verda

When we think about Verda, we will remember the big things—but we will also remember the little things.

Walk with solid fill She loved to walk. Staying active was simply part of who she was.

Lighthouse scene with solid fill She loved being near the water.

She loved the color green.

Frog with solid fill She loved plants and animals- especially frogs.

Wine with solid fill She loved brandy and wine.

World with solid fill She loved to travel the world and was able to do so with her youngest daughter, Denise Ramsey, her son-in-law, Bryan Suggitt and granddaughter, Chloe Suggitt.

And finally, Verda loved the Bay Area, but Oakland held a particularly special place in her heart. It was where she grew up, where she worked, where she raised her daughters, where she became a homeowner, and where she built the foundation of her life.

A New Chapter in Stockton

In 2005, Verda moved to Stockton and began another chapter of her life.

Stockton offered her a quieter pace while allowing her to remain close to the people she loved. She especially treasured the time she spent with her oldest daughter Shirley, son-in-law, Charles Williams, her granddaughter Eurasia, grandson Omar Johnson, and great grandchildren Calvin, Devon and Kiera Johnson.

She took pride in seeing another generation of her family come into their own.

Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about Verda was how fiercely she held on to her independence, living on her own until age 94. That was Verda.

Her strength and independence were not simply qualities she owned. They were a way of life.

A Life Worth Remembering

When we look back at Verda's life, we see so much more than a list of accomplishments.

We see a little six-year-old girl leaving Pine Bluff, Arkansas, with her mother and grandmother, not knowing how life would turn out, the opportunities and the impact of her influence.

Verda's life was not without challenges. That is part of what makes her story so meaningful. She came from a generation that understood sacrifice and had expectations of her family.

Verda Mae Johnson Ramsey lived a long and dedicated life.

She was loved. She was respected. She was independent. She was strong.

And she will always be a part of us.