Velma Rhea Corzine, born June 16, 1925, in Princeton, Collin County, Texas,
was called home June 1, 2014.
Her father, Horace Lokey born in Collin County; her mother Tessie Thorn Lokey, born in Waldon, Arkansas; her sister Christine Douglas of Garland and her husband Rev. Troy B. Corzine of Collin County, who she married May 18, 1942, preceded her in death.
She is survived by four sons and one daughter: Michael and wife Jihan of Farmersville, Gary and wife Lynn of Farmersville, Mark and wife Kim of Castle Rock, Colorado, Jeffrey and wife Kelli of Leander, Texas, and Pamela and husband Chris Jones of Frisco. Troy and Velma have eleven grandchildren: Jake, Michelle, Alisha, Stephanie, Casey, Garrett, Brent, Jessica, Jared, Julianne & Shelby, and eleven great-grandchildren: Arianna, Alex, Michiah, Hayden, Gabe, Liam, Aaliya, Justice, Luke, Easton, & Kamrie. She is also survived by two sisters, Hettie Vaughan of Allen and Ann McKinney and husband Ronald McKinney of Telephone, Texas, as well as one brother O.C. Lokey and wife Pauline of Princeton, Texas.
Velma grew up on a farm near Princeton, Texas and was graduated from Princeton High School in 1942. She married a soldier, Troy B. Corzine from Parker, Texas but WWII allowed them little time together in the next few years.
After Troy was wounded first in El Guettar action in Tunisia and secondly in the Sicilian campaign, he recovered in US hospitals then was medically retired.
When Troy came home, he and Velma were the first citizens of Collin County to receive a loan from the Farm Security Administration in 1945 to purchase land and build a house and farm buildings. This was 114 acres in the Forest Grove community southeast of McKinney on what is now East Blondy Juhne Road. Both Troy & Velma loved farm life but, in 1951 Troy surrendered to the gospel ministry, sold the farm and moved his family to Decatur where he was graduated from Decatur Baptist College. He received further degrees from East Texas State University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Velma was a selfless home maker to her husband and children. She was also a great asset in the gospel ministry, as she taught the Bible and shared her faith in Jesus Christ. She consistently exhibited a genuine Christian spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
In her early teen years she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and suffered mightily from this crippling disease throughout her life. Despite medicines and surgeries, nothing ended her suffering nor kept her hands from twisting painfully as she became progressively worse.
Throughout their lives, Troy continued to suffer from his war wounds and Velma from her arthritis. Life was always challenging, but Velma’s joy continued, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Her greatest fear was that in her pain she would dishonor God.
Troy pastored churches in Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Colorado. Velma was a partner in ministry to her husband while caring for five children. The joy of the Lord was truly her strength. She poured herself out in service to God, family and others. In her presence you were assured that love does conquer all!
Though her body was twisted and painful and in her last years she was confined to a wheelchair, she continued to walk with God. The years she was at Homestead Nursing Home, now Park Manor, in McKinney were spent, as all her life had been, in Bible study, prayer and ministry. Through her Bible study class and daily witness to all who sought her prayer and counsel, God used her to bring others to Him.
Last Sunday, this ambassador for Christ was called home, where I am sure she heard, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
Services will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, June 5th at First Baptist Church in Farmersville with family officiating. Burial will be in Verona Cemetery. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 4th at Hurst’s Fielder Baker Funeral Home in Farmersville, Texas.