Vera M. Houston known by many and loved by all. A devout Jehovah's Witness, devoted mother, beloved grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt better known as "Mema" born August 10, 1937, died after a sudden but brief illness on Thursday, September 21, 2017. She was 80 years old. Vera was the first of three children born in Birmingham, Alabama to her parents, the late Allen W. and Frances L. Hightower. She was predeceased by both siblings—one sister and one brother; and a niece. She was the only surviving member of her immediate family.

Vera graduated from Parker High School. Her first job out of high school was at a shirt pressing company. She relocated from Birmingham to Philadelphia to briefly live with her cousin Maurice and his first wife. While there she was introduced by Maurice to her late husband Cornell. She says, "It was love at first sight." They were married in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama and they soon started a family. She was a housewife for many years.

Vera was a long-time native of Virginia Beach, Virginia and a military spouse for 23 years. As a child growing up as a Baptist in Alabama, she always had a spiritual connection with God and wanted to know the truth about him. As she got older raising her seven children, she was not satisfied with the answers she was getting about who God was as a Baptist and then eventually as a Catholic. But leave it to Jehovah and His Holy Spirit because the truth is in his written Word (Acts 8:28-40). While her husband was in port in Okinawa, two witnesses were out in field service and approached him with the Watchtower and Awake magazines. He politely listened to the presentation, took the magazines, and read them. Upon his return home to Virginia, he told Vera, "I don't like the Catholic Church but read these magazines…these people seem to know what they're talking about." Vera read the magazines and two weeks later Sister Birdie Bagby and another sister knocked on the door. She immediately accepted a bible study, and never looked back. Although her husband did not become one of Jehovah's Witnesses, he never opposed her faith. In 1978, while continuing her bible study, her husband was Duty Stationed in Annapolis, Maryland. She was baptized at one of the conventions on April 8, 1979.

While in Maryland she attended Anne Arundel Community College and received an Associate degree in Business Studies. Vera was a housewife first but she did work outside of the home part-time; many of her occupations throughout her military travels included bank teller, GEX clerk, Navy Exchange Jewelry clerk, Life Insurance Agent, Mary-Kay Consultant and other sales consultant services.

As her children grew up and grew out of the house, she decided it was time to find a career she really enjoyed but still gave her flexibility in her schedule to care for her grandkids. So, she became an entrepreneur. In 1986 Vera received her Cosmetology License and became a very passionate, successful, and well-known hair stylist—turning her garage into a professional hair salon. In conjunction with being a hair stylist, she decided she wanted to help teach children with special needs. She loved children and began her second longest career with the VBCPS from 1991-2009 as a Special Education Teacher Assistant. After her retirement from the school system it was Vera's desire to enter the Ministry as a pioneer for the Good News of God's Kingdom in which she served faithfully until her death.

Vera loved Jehovah and had zeal for the ministry. She was a devoted mother to her children and a true companion to her friends and cousins. She will be lovingly remembered by her seven (7) children: Jennifer Holloman (Gene Sr.), Jimmie Britt (Denise), Carlos Houston, Dean Houston (Melanie), Vincent Houston (Felicia), Felecia Spivey (Lewis), and Rodney Houston (Mattie); 14 grandchildren: Ray, Lauren, Blake, Corey, Jimmie III, Danun, Erin, Heather, Sarah, Damian, Gene Jr., Caleb, Cadence, and Kristen; five (5) great grandchildren: Maci, Braelyn, Princeton, Jimi, and Makari; niece-Danner, and a host of beloved relatives and dear friends.

Please send floral arrangements for the Memorial Service to the funeral home.

Cards of Sympathy can be mailed to:
The Houston Family
Post Office Box 995
Norfolk, VA 23501