Rev. Vernia Garrett McCoy Obituary 1938-2022

Rev. Vernia Garrett McCoy ws born in Franklinton, La., to Isaac James Garrett, Sr. and Vander Anthony Garrett. She was batptized at Winans United Methodist Church. She was educated in the Washington Parish School System and earned here hight school diploma from Washington Parish Colored School in 1952. She furthered her education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., where, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and a Masters of Education in Counselors Education. She taught school for thirty-two years in the Tangipahoa Parish School System. She was united in marriage to Fred McCoy on December 24, 1955. This union was blessed with three of their own children and a niece thy raised as their own child.

She was a faithful, hardworking member of Grants Chapel AME Church. She answered the call to preach and was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the  Eighth Episcopal District in the Louisiana Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She studies at the International Theological Center and earned a Certificate of Theology. Rev. McCoy was licenses to preach in 1996 and was later appointed to St. James AME Church Airport Rd. She served there until her retirement. After retirement, she returned to Grants Chapel AME Church and continued to serve in many capacities.

Rev. McCoy was a member of Shady Grove Order of Eastern Star #134 PHA. She served as  Chaplin and was a past Worthy Matron. She joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., and remained active in the Theta Theta Zeta Chapter. She diligently served with North Oaks Hospice for over 20 years. SH was a m ember of the Golden Tones Choir for the Hammond Recreation Department.

Her beautiful life will be forever cherished in the lives of her children: Roderick McCoy Sr., Zander McCoy and Samaria Rose McCoy; one special daughter, Corriene McCoy; siblings Ella Rose Brookins, Catherine G. Brown and Jerry Garrett (Mary); four grandchildren; five great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Fred McCoy; siblings; Purvis Garrett, Isaac Garrett, Jr., Willie Dean Brickman, Betty Blackburn, Shirley Garrett Martin, David Garrett, Melvin Garrett, Sr., Benjamin Garrett and Rodney Garrett; and niece she raised as her own, Johnnie Mae McCoy.

Researching their grandparents records at the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office

Conducting genealogy research
Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office

Did you ever wonder where to begin researching your family history? Dr. Valarie Richardson and her brother  Earl Scott Richardson, Jr.,  research their family history with genealogist and local historian Dr. Antoinette Harrell at the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office. It was their  first time conducting genealogy research. 

The discovery of the marriage record of their great aunt Hattie Wheat intrigued them. My paternal great uncle Theodore Harrell married their  great aunt Rosa Wheat. Their marriage record was found, which was quite surprising to them. In the marriage index book, they found several of their great aunts on the Wheat side of their family. 

Richardson's Funeral Home was founded by their grandparents Supt. Alexander and Aunt Melissa Wheat Richardson. During the 1960s, their grandfather worked at Good Shepherd Funeral Home. In addition, we examined the records of Campbell Funeral Home, which was founded in the 1940s.

Doing our research we were joined Susan Roesgen, WGNO, New Anchor and her camera man. Susan watched us move around the courthouse finding hidden treasure in chattel books that feel like they weigh at least 25 pounds. By the end of the day my arms was sore from picking up the heave books. With the help of the clerk's employees, we had a successful research trip regardless of the bomb threat at the courthouse.