Velma Rae Dunning Porter passed away Thursday, August 7, 2014, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 78.
Velma was born on December 7, 1935, in Vicksburg, where she lived until her graduation from Carr Central High School in 1954. She achieved her B S. Magna Cum Laude in mathematics in 1958 and her M.S. in teaching mathematics in 1971 from the Mississippi University for Women and spent many years teaching. She taught high school math and science in Abilene, Texas; Carr Jr. High in Vicksburg, Belleview High School, Neb.; Heritage Academy, Columbus, and at Henderson Jr. High and Starkville High School. Velma retired from teaching in the Starkville Public School System in 1992.
Velma was a long-standing member of First United Methodist Church in Starkville where she enjoyed singing in the choir and participating in the Savage Bible Group and the Methodist Women’s Group.  She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Kappa Iota, Starkville Newcomers and was a past president of Friends of the Starkville Public Library and of the M’Lady Garden Club. She was an outstanding teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, volunteer and compassionate friend to many in the community.
Velma is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond K. Dunning and Sarah M. Hallberg Dunning and her siblings: Edward G. Dunning, Thomas (Ted) Dunning and Margie Mai Dunning Bawduniak. She is survived by her husband of nearly 58 years, William M. Porter; her daughters, Devra Kay Rich (Mark)  and Susan Rae Shaffer (Lee); grandsons, Dr. William A. Shaffer, Thomas P. Shaffer and James D. Shaffer.
Visitation is 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Starkville First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, August 12, with a celebration of her life to follow. A private interment will be held at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Methodist Senior Services, Friends of the Starkville Public Library, or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Condolences may be made at www.welchfuneralhomes.com.