Verna Webber Patterson Ricker

Verna Patterson Ricker was the daughter of Sam Henderson Webber and Rossie Rudisill Webber. She was born in Shelby, NC on June 2nd, 1929. She was a life long member of Washington Baptist Community Church. She attended John Chavis High School. She attended college at NC A&T and was a member of the graduating class of 1951.

Verna married John Patterson, Jr of Cherryville, NC and moved with him to Boston, MA in 1953 where she lived for 52 years. Although she trained to be a teacher, prejudice in New England caused her to change careers. Opportunities drew her into the electronics industry where she worked for 37 years. She retired from Digital Equipment Corporation in 1990 where she had managed both logistics and manufacturing operations. She was the first African American Woman to attain the rank of manager at Digital Equipment Corporation. After retiring from the manufacturing industry Verna spent over a decade working for the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). She was deployed across the country as part of disaster relief teams, often as the section head. She helped Americans through many crises, including the terrorist attack of 9/11.

Retirement also gave Verna the time to explore entrepreneurship. She loved to travel. Her most exotic destination was Tahiti but her favorite way to travel was cruising. So, she started her own travel agency, "The World is Yours", focused on arranging group cruises. It allowed her to share something she loved with others.

Verna always made time for community involvement. Her church home in Boston was People's Baptist Church. Her voice added to the joyful noise lifted up by the choir every Sunday. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She became Worthy Grand Matron of the Prince Hall Grand Chapter, OES Jurisdiction of Massachusetts and she headed the Boston Chapter of AARP for many years.

Verna returned home to Shelby, NC in 2005 where she once again became an active member of Washington Baptist Community Church serving as church clerk for 12 years, President of the Choir, Chair of the Senior Ministry, and manager of the Clothes Closet.

Wherever she lived, Verna always found a church home. Verna celebrated her 90th birthday in Newtown, PA where she had moved to be close to her daughter, Sandra. In Newtown she became a member of Macedonia Baptist Church. In 2021 Verna moved to Connecticut. The birth of her one and only great grandson, led the family to relocate. Immanuel Baptist Church in New Haven became her church home. She was always grateful for the welcome she received from Immanuel so late in her life. However, she was raised in Washington Missionary Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. It was her first church home and she maintained her membership there throughout her life.

Verna had four children, Sandra, Dennis, and twins, Rene and Reginald. Her son Dennis predeceased her. She leaves to mourn her Sandra Harris (Gary) of Connecticut, Rene Tarver (Phillip) of Massachusetts, and Reginald Patterson also of Massachusetts; granddaughters Fabien Jones (Charles), Allison Harris (Amir Fairdosi) and Ashley Harris; and great grandson, Kamron Harris-Fairdosi. Verna was predeceased by her husband John Ricker to whom she had been married for 48 years.

It is with a heavy heart we say goodbye, but we know the time has come.

May I go now?
Do you think the time is right?
May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?....
By Susan A Jackson

In lieu of flowers the family invites you to make a contribution to Washington Outreach Ministry, PO Box 507, Waco, NC 28169.