Velma Veronica James

Velma Veronica Lindsay (James), sunrise December 6, 1951, and sunset July 8, 2020. Velma Veronica Lindsay (James) was born on December 6, 1951 in Cascade St. Ann, Jamaica West Indies to Bobby Lindsay and Vernice Morrison (Shields). Her early education institute was Batasie Primary School in St. Ann. Her higher education was at Eureka Private High School in May Pen, Clarendon.
Velma then passed all required exams in Math, English, Word Processing, and Computer Science. She obtained her first job at Clarendon College as a bursar and was awarded a 6th month scholarship to study Computer Science abroad in London, England. She returned with additional knowledge and continued to work for the college. She also worked weekends at a large supermarket in May Pen as their financial accountant, where she balanced and handled money as well as kept records. Velma loved learning and had a strong pursuit to advance her education in many ways. She was professionally driven and her desire was to be an entrepreneur.
Velma was married to Albert James in Jamaica, West Indies. The marriage produced two sons in Jamaica, Oliver and Omar. Velma and Albert migrated to the U.S. and then resided in Yonkers, NY in 1980, where Velma worked as a bank manager, while simultaneously pursuing her degree in the then new field of computer science.
She and Albert produced another son, Alvern. At that time, she was a deeply spiritual and reverent person, and joined Yonkers Central Church of God, where she attended services regularly and were very involved in all their events. Velma worked as a financial advisor at a bank in White Plains, NY. And with all of this knowledge and experience, she decided to open and own her own business. Jemax Travel was the name of her business, Jemax was a compound word meaning Jesus and Max (JE-MAX), with that belief that if she stayed true to her family and contributed to her community, while continually evolving her state of mind.
Always upbeat and welcoming, her desire was to do two things in her life: have a career that she created, untethered to the whims and bias of society, a bold move at a time before affirmative action, at a time where the status quo stated women in America relentlessly pursued freedom broke away and conquered their dream. Her 3 boys were always there with her. She continued to advance her education simultaneously and obtained 2 Masters Degrees from Mercy College. First, in Business Administration and second, in Computer Science. Velma was extremely intelligent and heartfelt, and she began traveling, taking her family around the world. Sometimes her boys, sometimes others, and with a strong passion for entrepreneurship. She pursued another passion of hers, which was great Jamaican food, and seeing the lack at the time, invested what she had into a new restaurant, Caribbean Pride. She hired locals and was always involved in community events for the city of Yonkers. Both businesses were doing well and she began to get involved with politics, and fought to be elected to the Yonkers City Council. Contributing more to the community, splitting her time between the travel agency, the restaurant, the City Council, and raising her family.
Velma then expanded her travel and tax business to a second location in the Bronx, NY, where she expanded her reach, providing her services and proven expertise to a wider range on New York. Always believing God's will, strength, omnipotent power and understanding, and incomprehensible love, and in just trusting in that created an atmosphere that all are welcome. She always reminded every person that they are loved, and that was her goal. This was a person who manifested her dreams. Later in life, she began her last and final endeavor, Pass me not and Vevivel's compound in pursuit of her desire to provide her community with access and knowledge of good physical and spiritual health and the products would provide the best things for people, and would make dreams come true. It truly can be said that she died unafraid, knowing that she did her bet, and she gave it her all. In doing so, she was happy to go to God, finally, she used to say in quiet times of conflict and rejection that she faced. To her little boys, who she kept close, always. This world is not for I, and we knew what she meant. This world can sometimes be cruel and vindictive, lacking empathy, and false sympathy, forcing on a person to make choices contradictory to a nattily innocent good nature. It becomes a hell. She showed me that misery can come when you are ultimately pursuing your dreams. But all that matters is that you trust God.


A Celebration of Life will be held on July 24, 2020, from 9 AM-11 AM with a service starting 11 AM at the Pelham Funeral Home Pelham NY 10803 Burial will follow in Mt Hope Cemetery, Hastings-on-Hudson.