Vera Harrison

Vera Harrison, formerly of Cooper’s Close and Peel Street, died peacefully at Springhill House Care Home, Accrington on Wednesday 13^th July, 2016, aged 99 years.

 In the early years Vera was brought up on Fielding Lane in Oswaldtwistle along with her brother Eric and her sister Jean.  She attended Accrington Grammar School and continued her education by attending Manchester College, she made use of her teaching skills and taught during the war near Beverley, in East Yorkshire.

She also served as a missionary for the Baptist Missionary Society in China after the war, until the Cultural Revolution there in 1949 and also served as a missionary teacher in Angola and the Congo.  In the mid 1960’s she returned home to Oswaldtwistle to care for her parents in Fielding Lane. Subsequently she then became a teacher at an Accrington High School where she worked until she retired.  In her younger years she also took pleasure in travelling and visited many places.

Vera was a well-respected and prominent member of New Lane Baptist, her local church and was the church secretary for many years, she enjoyed taking an active role in the life of the church and her local community.  She continued to do this until the last three or four years when she became less mobile.  Vera also made time for helping others and supported many charities and also worked with the Prisons Christian fellowship.

She was an avid reader, a keen scrabble player and also enjoyed music, including playing the piano.  Vera would also often take time out and spend it visiting the elderly and infirm. 

Vera leaves behind her much loved nephews and niece and their families.  Ian and Sue, Carole and Mike, David and Maria and John and Pascale and also her dearly loved great nephews and nieces Catherine and Matthew, Tegan and Niamh, Matthew and Scott, Isabelle, Alison and Guillaume.

Her funeral service will be held at 12.15pm on Thursday 28^th July, at New Lane Baptist Church, New Lane, Oswaldtwistle, officiated by Pastor Christine Neal followed by cremation at Accrington Crematorium.  Family flowers only please but donations are welcome in memory of Vera for the Baptist Missionary Society, c/o Barton & Hallworth Funeral Service, The Old Foxhill, 136 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle. Tel: 01254 390542.