Obituary

Verna Mae, 82, peacefully passed on September 7, 2023.  Proceded in death by parents Julius C. Porcher Sr. & Laura M. (Brown) Porcher.  Siblings: Pearl Jackson, Rosalie Gordon, & James Porcher.  Husbands: Chester Harris & Theodore Carter, Sr. Granddaughter: Paige Carter.

Survived by brother, Rev. Julius C. Porcher, Jr.  Three children: Sherry George (James, her devoted son-in-law), Stacy Burton (Joseph) & Theodore Carter, Jr. (Melissa).  Grandchildren: Andrew, James Jr., Christopher, Timothy, Ryan, Jordon, Israiel & Alexandria.  One great-grandson, Myles.  Beloved by a host of nieces & nephews.  Godmother to Porchon & Christopher.  Verna considered her cousin, Keith “Butch” Toney as her second son.  Cousin Butch called her daily for decades.  Lastly, she considered Andrea Nash her adoptive daughter/protégé.

Raised in Franklin Borough, Verna was affectionally known as one of the “Franklin Girls.”  She graduated Franklin Borough High School (Class of 1959) & ranked in the upper tenth of her class.  Her activities included Chorus, Drama, & substitute majorette.  She worked as a secretary under the head teacher, Mr. Slick.

Verna is a graduate of Cambria Rowe Business College & Mount Aloysius Junior College.

Verna was employed at F.W. Woolworth (toy dept.), Mangles Department Store (ladies dept.), GTE Telephone (operator), Mercy Hospital (medical secretary/educational resource secretary, 30 years), Windber Hospital (X-ray dept.), Social Security Administration (secretary), RE/MAX Team Realtors (secretary, 14 years), Boscov’s Department Store (associate), and a Foster Grandparent for the Department of Aging.

A devoted child of God, Verna became a member of the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church at age 14.  She served in mutiple ministries within the church, including: Sunday School Superintendent/Teacher, Usher Ministry, Chorus, Junior Church Clerk, and Church Clerk.  Her love was the Usher Ministry, so much so that at times she was the lone usher for the entire church.  Verna began her journey as Church Clerk under Reverend F.M. Johnson.  Under the tutelage of Deacon R.P. Daniel, Verna advanced from Junior Church Clerk to Church Clerk, a position she held for decades.  She served as Church Clerk under nine pastors.

Verna was very active in her community.  She is a Past Worthy Matron of Conemaugh Deborah Grand Chapter #55 (O.E.S., PHA), and the past president of the Elizabeth Lindsey Davis Club. She served as past president of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC).  She was an advisory board member at the University of Pennsylvania at Johnstown (UPJ).  She also served on the board of the American Heart Association and as a board member of the Girls Scouts, USA. Additionally, Verna served on the Johnstown Police Advisory Board.

She was actively involved in the NAACP.  She was the past president, a member of the executive board and served as the youth advisor of the local Johnstown branch.  For decades, she tirelessly worked as a state executive board member, and state youth advisor.  Under the NAACP national office, she worked as a master trainer representative.

Final respects may be paid to Mrs. Verna at Mount Sinai Institutional Baptist Church (351 2nd Street, Conemaugh) on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, from 4 pm – 8 pm, only.  The funeral service will also be held at Mount Sinai, on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at 11:00 am.  The interment will be at Headricks Union Cemetery. Arrangements in care of Hindman Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., “Exclusive Provider of Veterans and Family Memorial Care.” Condolences may be made at HindmanFuneralHomes.com