VERNITA MATTIE ELAM, daughter of the late William Thomas Purdie and Mattie Virginia Evans, was born on November 25, 1933.  She was reared by her parents on their farm in Southampton County, Zuni, Virginia.

Vernita received her education in Virginia County School System, attending Rosenwald Elementary School, Zuni, Virginia, Hayden High School, Franklin, Virginia and one year of College at Virginia State College, Norfolk, Virginia. At an early age, Vernita accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at the Chapel Grove Christian Church, Windsor, Virginia, under the pastorship of Rev. Raleigh Briggs, Pastor in Suffolk, Virginia. In the early 1950's she decided to relocate to Baltimore, Maryland. Her first place of employment was at Johns Hopkins Hospital as a Nurse's Aide in the nursery working with infants. Later in the 1970's, she began a career with the Baltimore City School System for 241/2 years until her retirement in 1995. She worked with level five students. The first 10 years with the school system she worked with grades kindergarten through 3rd grade. The last years she worked with Junior High students at Woodbourne Day School on Sinclair Lane. Vernita joined the fellowship of the Israel Baptist Church on February 2, 1958, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. Edmond D. Meade, Sr., and presently under Rev. H. Walden Wilson, II. She became a member of the Fellowship Ministry as a "Doorkeeper" (usher), welcoming the worshipers into the House of God. She was later appointed to serve on the Deaconess Ministry, being helpful and assisting the Pastor and Deacons with candidates for baptism, as well as visiting the sick and bereaved families.

Vernita met Collins McKinley Elam, Sr., and they were united in Holy Matrimony for 39 years before his passing. From this union they were blessed with five children. God is so good. She was a stay at home mother until her youngest child started Pre-K. After taking her son to school each day, she began volunteering at the school, and later it became a permanent position for her. Vernita was kindhearted, nurturing and enduring with her family-especially her husband, her children and grandchildren. She liked to travel and often traveled to her homeplace in Virginia where she was born. Vernita had the best of both experiences-"Country and City Living", and the freedom to see nature at its greatest-fishing, hunting, hiking, farming and gardening. Virginia was a place to go and unwind. Vernita was a quiet person who loved and enjoyed her family. She was  gracious and grateful person who believed in God's promises, leaning on His everlasting arms, knowing self, being faithful in a few things and true in love, tongue, word and deed, compassion in love and in action. Vernita was a very simple and down-to-earth person, a very modest, neat and well-groomed Christian woman.   

In the early morning hours of Monday, April 12, 2026 at 12:50 am, the Lord touched Vernita M. Elam as she transitioned into His loving arms to enter into the realm of eternal peace. He whispered, "Well done, my good and faithful servant, come home." She has reunited with her husband Collins, Sr., her parents, her three sisters, Elizabeth Saunders, Lula Anderson and Anna Urquhart and her three brothers, John and Moses Saunders and Thomas Joyner, and her grandson, Terrell Green, who have all journeyed on before her.

Vernita leaves to cherish fond and precious memories: five children, Cynthia Carter (Wycal), Collins, Jr., Carla, Gloria and Philip (Dwan); five grandchildren, Juantia Carter, LaSonia Kings, LaToya Williams, Philip John and Makai Elams; five great-grandchildren, Azaleia Thrasher, Frank, Lolen and Lola Hopkins and Maloni Green two brothers-in-law, James and Jack Elam; three sisters-in-law, Carolyn Joyner, Annie and Constance Elam; nine nieces, nine nephews and eight cousins. Also her dear friend of over 60 years, Katrina Chestnut, The Israel Baptist Church Family of Baltimore City, the Gilfield Baptist Church Family of Ivor, Virginia and a host of other relatives and enduring friends.