Velma Ruth Long Pearson, 76, of DeSoto, Texas passed away surrounded by family on October 26, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. She was born on September 1, 1946 in Hillsboro, Texas to Lee Watkin Long and Thelma Tunsel Long. Velma attended the Hillsboro Public School District where she graduated from Peabody High School as valedictorian in 1964. She also attended Prairie View A&M University and Dallas Community College.

Her husband, Bennie Pearson Jr., preceded her in death, in addition to her parents, sister Doris Long Robinson and stepdaughter Beverly Kirk. Velma is survived by her four children, sons Steven P. Pearson, Bennie J. Pearson III, Dennis L. Pearson, Sr., daughter Tamara Pearson and stepdaughter Deborah Kirk, all of DeSoto, Texas.

She has six grandchildren; three brothers, Lee Long Jr. of Columbus, Ohio; John Long of Dallas, Texas; and Paul Long of Denver, Colorado; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Velma's career included working at the Greyhound Bus Station in Dallas where she met her husband, Bennie. The majority of her career was spent at Southwestern Bell and AT&T where she retired. During her career she was a union steward in CWA. She also worked at the DeSoto Police Department as a dispatcher and jailer.

Velma founded Godleth Publishing and published a magazine Visionary Voices and a book of poetry Rhythm, Rhyme & Rhetoric from Africa, America & Above. Velma was the founding president of Concerned DeSoto Citizens (CDC) and a founding member of DeSoto Dining and Dialogue. She took part in many Democratic Party activities.

Velma was a news and history aficionado, biblical scholar and an excellent cook. She was a virtual encyclopedia of all three.

Velma accepted Christ at a young age and was a member of Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas at the time of her death