Velma Bates Koen took her celebration flight from this life on Sunday, May 23, 2021. She was born in
Mobile, Alabama on February 8, 1944, fifteen minutes after her twin sister, to the late Samuel Whitlock
and Annie D. Bates. She was educated in the Mobile County Public School System where she attended
Central High School. She received her nursing degree from Southwest State Technical Institute, now
Bishop State Community College, in 1970 and practiced as a nurse for over 35 years. Although nursing
was her career, she considered her vocation a ministry that she truly loved.
At the age of 12, Velma accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at Macedonia
Baptist Church in Mobile. Through her marriage to the late Louis Leroy Koen, Jr. they were blessed with
two children: Terrance Antonio Koen Sr. and the late Tiffany Koen Harris. They later relocated from
Mobile to Laurel, Maryland in 1971. Velma was employed for many years as a nurse at Holy Cross
Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland in the ambulatory surgery department. She truly cherished the
relationships and friendships that she established at Holy Cross and many of her colleagues became
more like family during her time there. She was a faithful member and Trustee at Emmanuel Baptist
Church in Laurel, Maryland. Velma also attended Peoples Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring,
Maryland and later became one of the first females to serve as head of the deacon board at Faith
Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland.
She retired from Holy Cross Hospital in 2006 and relocated back to Mobile where she united with Mount
Hebron Church Ministries as a faithful member. Velma was dedicated to serving others and took great
joy in being a part of the women’s ministry, senior ministry, Sunday school class, 16 card ministry and
nursing home ministry. Velma never met a stranger and loved to connect. She had the gift of making
everyone feel extremely worthy and loved remembering special dates by sending a card or word of
encouragement on birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions. She was known for praying for
people “on the spot” and ministering to others and serving as a true disciple of Jesus.
Velma leaves a legacy of faith, family, and the importance of serving others. As the matriarch of her
family, Velma was committed to keeping her family close. She was preceded in death by her parents
Samuel Whitlock and Annie D. Bates; twin sister, Thelma Bates Acker; daughter, Tiffany Koen Harris;
nephew, Corwin Acker Sr.; and great-granddaughter, Harper Sloane Miller.
Left to Cherish her memory: son, Terrance Antonio Koen, Sr. (Anette); devoted granddaughter, Kiersten
(Gregory) Miller; brothers, Sammie Whitlock and Charles Acker; grandchildren: Tyque (Madea)
McCarthy, Danielle Koen, Terrance Koen Jr., Dominique Harris, Jasmine Harris; devoted niece, Carlana
Acker; nephew, Carlos (Mary) Acker; great-grandchildren: Jordan, Alayjah, Konnor, DeUntate, Jaleigh
and Cameron; great nephews: Brandon, Corwin II, Christopher, Cody (Bria), Alexis and Cohen; devoted
son-in-love, Derrick Harris (Sylvia); devoted cousins, godchildren and a host of other family and friends.