Mrs. Josie Ruth Vann

Josie Ruth Hammond Vann Reflections Of A Life Well Lived June 4, 1921—September 25, 2015 Josie Ruth Hammond Vann, the only child of Leonard Harrison Hammond and Josie Marie Wilkerson Hammond was born in Opelousas, Louisiana. Her parents preceded her in death. She was married to Joseph Willard Vann, Jr. who preceded her in death. She began her teaching career in Opelousas, Louisiana. She also taught at Fort Hood, Texas and Berlin, Germany. She was Education Adviser at Poitiers, France and Director of the University of Maryland Army Overseas program in Verdun, France. She taught at Woods and Phillips elementary schools in Tulsa and then retired after 36 years in the field of education. After retirement she plunged into a new career of volunteerism and community service. Her first taste of community service started in her hometown. Since that time she has been active in every community she has lived. She was an active member of First Baptist Church North Tulsa, where she served on the Christian Education Ministry, the Trustee Ministry, the Renovation Committee, the Policies and Procedures Committee, General Chair of the 100th Church Anniversary, Chairman of the Music Council and Vice Chair of the Clemmie B. Hill Circle. Her expansive community services included work with the American Red Cross Blood Center; the Star Mental Health Board; the Tulsa Chapter of Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation and the YWCA. She was renowned for her service to YMCA and served on the Hutcherson and Metro Board of Directors. She was the first female Chair of the Hutcherson YMCA Board and the first female Chair of the Business and Industrial Development Corporation Board; the Greenwood Cultural Board and the North Tulsa Heritage Foundation; a driver for Meals on Wheels for fifteen years. Her involvement with AARP included serving as president of the Tulsa Northeast Chapter; National Trainer for Widowed Persons Services and National Minority Spokesperson. She has been honored by several organizations for her community service including Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (1991); Tulsa Hair Designer’s Guild (1993); Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (1996); Hutcherson YMCA (1999); the Tulsa Historical Society Hall of Fame Inductee (1999); YMCA of Greater Tulsa (2000); Omega Psi Phi (2004);and One Hundred Black Men (2005). She was a member of the Elite Ladies Club, Debonaire Bridge Club, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Links, Inc. Mourning her departure yet cherishing the beautiful memory of her love and devotion are her daughter and son-in-law Kay and Fredrick Wright of Tulsa; two grandsons, Anthony(Krystal) Wright and David Wright of Houston, Texas; one great granddaughter Kamryn Cynae Wright and one great grandson Kyle Anthony Wright of Houston, Texas; her Godchild and cousin Sheila Dunn Isaacs (Charles) of Bronx, New York; cousins Charles Dunn (Hermonesse) of New Orleans, Louisiana, Pam (Michel) Seard and Michael (Clara) Fleming of Oklahoma City and many other special cousins and devoted friends. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to one of the many charitable organizations that she supported during her lifetime. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Baptist Church North Tulsa on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation at Jack’s Memory Chapel will be held on Friday, October 2, 2015. Burial will be in Opelousas, Louisiana on Wednesday, October 7, 2015.

Tributes

Mrs. Josie Ruth Vann

June 4, 1921 - September 25, 2015