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NOVEMBER 10, 1939 - JANUARY 1, 2024NOVEMBER 10, 1939 - JANUARY 1, 2024&Reverend Dr. Alexander Gee, JrReverend Lilada GeeCO-OFFICIANTS

remembering the life ofVerline’s family moved north to Chicago’s Westside seeking a better lifewhen she was eleven years old. Verline took an aptitude test when she was afreshman in high school that indicated she demonstrated the scholasticaptitude of a college sophomore. Notwithstanding, she dropped out of highschool before her sophomore year at Farragut High School because she saidthat in her neighborhood it wasn’t cool to be a Black female intellectual. Shefollowed her peers, and lowered expectations and entered the workforce asa teen in the 1950s.At the nudging of her friend, Dorothy Scott, Verline moved to Madison in1970 with her two young children, Alexander and Lilada. She set out to dowhat she dreamed of doing in the 1950s, and enrolled in college at UW-Madison. She modeled fortitude, the pursuit of dreams, and confidence forher children inside the blaring cultural realities of Madison. Verline workedpart-time in places like Schoeps Ice Cream to put herself through college.Verline took a much-needed break from college due to family realities andpressures. She worked in a number of manufacturing and data entrypositions in places like GM in Janesville, Ohio Medical, WPS, IBM, FirstWisconsin Bank, and more. It was during this time that Verline recommitted toher faith in God and found inward strength to refocus and pursue her dreamsand purpose. Desperately in need of a faith community similar to that of herchildhood, Verline convinced her childhood pastor, Bishop Robert Ford, inChicago to drive to Madison bi-weekly to start a church in her living room in1977. It was called Union Tabernacle Church of God in Christ #2 - today thatchurch is Fountain of Life, where her son is Sr. Pastor and her daughter is anordained Associate Pastor. Verline taught both of her children and theirfriends in Sunday school for years.Verline reapplied to UW-Madison in the mid-80s, where both of her childrenthen attended. Verline graduated a semester before her son in May 1985,and was awarded a full scholarship to UW’s Masters Degree Program inSocial Work (MSSW). In 1987, she graduated with honors! Gee’s family holds13 degrees from UW-Madison due to her trailblazing efforts.#MsVVerline was born to Lillian Shaw and Homer Grays in Hayti Missouri on NovemMissourian sharecropper and migrant worker. As a child, she was also curious, gand spell the capital of every U.S. state before first grade.

She served this local community for decades as a Church Mother, mentor, socialworker, poet, family therapist, faith community leader, Bram Hill Apartments Manager,Nehemiah Case Manager, and most importantly, as a mother, grandmother, siblingand aunt.Those who knew Verline knew full well that she loved fishing, reading, crosswordpuzzles, collecting and watching movies, attending track meets, eating out withfriends and family, Amtrak train rides, and terrorizing wait staff at Perkins, OriginalPancake, Red Lobster, Nitty Gritty, Cracker Barrel, etc (LOL), with her persnickety fooddemands.Ms. Verline passed away peacefully in the arms and care of family on January 1,2024. She struggled boldly with Alzheimer’s Disease for nearly 14 years. She leavesto mourn and celebrate her life her son Alexander (Jackie), daughter Lilada,grandchildren Alexandra Verliné Gee-Lewis, Chris Lewis and Lexi Gee, a host ofnieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, kind friends, neighbors, and her churchfamily at Fountain of Life where she was the last remaining founder member andoriginal hostess.Verline’s children and grandchildren and family wish to acknowledge our faith inGod who has redeemed us and will unite us again, and all of the obstacles thatcaused Verline to rise to new occasions. They’d like to especially thank all theamazing people who cared deeply and respectfully for Verline during her long illnessand treated her like family. Your acts of kindness will never be forgotten.Verline’s life epitomizes the lived experiences of Black Americans whose generationsuffered the scope of American life that ranged from being birthed at home by aBlack midwife, to picking cotton, to segregated schools and communities in the 40sand 50s, to voting rights act and civil rights in the 60s, to affirmative action and Blackpride movements in the 70s, to the entrepreneurship of their children in the 80s and90s, to even the election of a Black President and Vice President. Another generationlike this will ever exist again! We pause and honor the legacy of those who fought forand believed for an intact America. Much honor and respect to our elders of hergeneration!VerlineLivesInOurHeartsmber 10, 1939. This cute, sandy-haired, freckled little girl entered her childhood as an impoverishedullible, adorable, and intelligent. Verline was a voracious reader and young poet. She was able to name

Thank YouThank YouWe are so appreciative for our community and for thosewho have been sharing stories about how Mom touchedtheir lives, and for so many who have reached out to askhow they can help. We would like to honor Mom’s lifethrough the creation of the Senior Room and Black seniorprogramming in the upcoming Center for Black Excellenceand Culture on Madison’s Southside.In honor of Mom, we ask you to please consider a generoustax-deductible donation to The Center so that we can createspace and programming for Black seniors in our communitywhere they will gather for socializing, healing, volunteering,education and cross-generational activities. These are thingsthat Mom would have enjoyed. Thank each of you for yourlove and prayers during this difficult time.Alexander and Lilada want to thank all of Mom’s family and friends who gave her a reasonto live well. We would like to recognize the following groups of people in particular:DESIGNED WITH LOVE BY JACQUESHA “SHUGA” HUNTJFM UNLIMITED, LLCDESIGNED WITH LOVE BY JACQUESHA “SHUGA” HUNTJFM UNLIMITED, LLCRoxanne Johnson, Kathann Jackson, Tracey Russell, Lurlie Richardson, Kadiatou Diallo, FabuCarter, Lola Jones, Theresa Boyeson-Kudo, Dr. Debbie Jones and Margaret Powell-ClarkA special thanks goes out to the caring staff of Sage Meadows, Agrace Hospice andFountain of Life’s Music, Powerpoint, Livestream, Pastoral and Hospitality teams. Chris LewisJohn Lucille Jeremiah FlemingDawayne Johnson Rickey ClarkKevin Doss Carmen Porco