Remembering the Life of Valerie Tolbert Lockett With Love, March 18, 1920 - January 25, 2004, Wednesday, January 28, 2004, 1:30 P.M., First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, 105 Courtland Street, Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia, The Reverend Dr. Dwight D. Andrews, Pastor, Officiating

She Was Different

She Was Different. She was special, Unique in a thousand ways. She was giving, she was loving, And we'll miss her all ofour days.
There are those who strive for praise, They yearn for world applause, There are some who chase sweet comfort As their one and only cause.
But, She Was Different. She knew sorrow in great measure, And was stung by illness, too, But neither could defeat her, Nothing could her faith subdue.

And when she saw death coming, She didn't cower in fear. Instead, she called out boldly "My Lord, I'm over here".
Of c:Jurse, the Lord will welcome her wit;, his angels magnifying, The beauty of that celestial place, devoid ofpain and crying.
But forgive us Lord for pining, For wishing she was here, It's so hard to give up someone We have come to love so dear.

Because you see, She Was Different; She was special, Unique in a thousand ways, She was loving, she was giving And we'll miss her, miss her Miss her, all our days!!!
-Author Unknown-
-~

Miss Me But Let Me Go
I have come to the end ofthe road, and the sun has set for me. I want no rites in a gloom-filled room. Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little but not for long, and not with your head bowed low. Remember the love and good times we once shared. Miss Me- But Let Me Go. For this journey that we all must take, and each must go alone. It's all a part ofthe Master's plan, a step on the road to home. When you are lonely and sick at heart, go to the friends we know, and bury your sorrow in doing good deeds. Miss Me - But Let Me Go.
-Unknown-
-~
Syecia{ Thanks
Special thanks is extended to the following organizations: First Congregation-al Church Altar Guild
Atlanta Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Atlanta Kappa Silhouettes

5\cknow fedgernent
The family of Valerie T. Lockett is deeply appreciative for all acts of love, deeds of thoughtfulness
and words of encouragement during her extended illness and transition. You have been a source of strength and comfort for us. Please continue to pray for our peace and well being in the days ahead. May God's blessings be with you always.
The Family

MURRAY BROTIIERS FUNERAL HOME, INC.
404-349-3000 1199 Utoy Springs Road, Southwest
(comer of Cascade Rd, near 1-285)
Atlanta, Georgia 30331

MKO Graphics & Printers, Inc. 404-523-1560

Remembering
Tlie Life of Yaferie To{6ert Lockett
Witli Love
March 18, 1920- January 25, 2004
Wednesday, January 28, 2004 -1:30 P.M.-
:first Congregationa{ Cliurcli 'UnitetfCliurcli of Clirist
105 Courtland Street, Northeast Atlanta, Georgia
The Reverend Dr. Dwight D. Andrews, Pastor Officiating

Life Rejfections
"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1
A Time To Be Born ... Mrs. Valerie Tolbert Lockett, the second of three daughters, was born to the union of the late Mrs.
Ada Poole Tolbert and Mr. Henry Tolbert on March 18, 1920, in Birmingham , Alabama . She was affectionately called "Val" by her family members and friends .
A Time To Grow... She received her elementary and high school education in the Birmingham public schools. Upon
graduation from Parker High School, she entered and was graduated from Miles College with a Bachelor's Degree in English Education. She received her Master's Degree in English and completed her requirements for certification in Leadership from the former Atlanta University in Atlanta , Georgia. She also pursued further studies at several other universities, including New York University in New York City.
A Time To Love... Val was united in marriage to Julius A. "Skipper" Lockett and remained devoted and faithful to him for
over sixty years . His continued well being was her primary concern and the driving force in her ardent pursuit of life in her latter days. Val and Skipper spent quality time together doing things that they loved: attending church , traveling around and out of the country, attending Kappa functions and baseball games, planning and hosting parties, and enjoying the company of each other and their dear friends.
A Time To Serve... Val's Christian life began at St. Mark C.M .E. Church in Birmingham, Alabama . In Atlanta, she joined
Rush Memorial Congregational Church and later First Congregational Church, UCC of Atlanta , Georgia where she served faithfully until her health declined . She participated in several organizations of the church, including the Altar Guild. Her propensity for decorating and having everything "just right" was evident on many occasions at the church .
Val loved people, especially children, which made her chosen profession, teaching, a natural. She taught in several public school systems including Cedartown , New Orleans and ultimately retired from the Atlanta Public School System after over forty years of service in the profession. In Atlanta , she taught at Henry M. Turner and Frederick Douglass high schools. While serving as Chairperson of the Language Arts Department at Douglass High School, Val gave leadership to the committee that wrote the proposal which won Frederick Douglass High School the distinction of the first predominately Black public high school to be named a State and National School of Excellence. She also chaired the committee that planned and implemented the Center for Engineering and Applied Technology (the Magnet Program for the school) .
Her continuous quest was to provide access to a quality education for all children and to encourage scholarship, particularly among young Black males. Upon her mother's demise, she assisted with the establishment of a perpetual scholarship in the name of her mother, the Ada Poole Tolbert Scholarship, to be awarded to a deserving student in the graduating class at Frederick Douglass High School. While serving as Assistant Principal at Douglass, she personally gave cash awards to male students who attained the status of valedictorian of the senior class.
Val was an active member of the Silhouettes, a support organization of wives and significant others of members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for many years.
A Tjme To Die... On January 25, 2004, Val entered into eternal rest at the Atlanta Medical Center.
A Time To Mourn ... Val leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her legacy of joy, life and love of people: her loving
husband, Julius A. "Skipper'' Lockett; one stepdaughter, Gloria Lockett, Jacksonville, Florida; three godsons, Paul Gardner and Ryan Montgomery, Birmingham , Alabama and James Montgomery, Washington , D.C.; three goddaughters, Ceci Aaron Haydel and Lynn Gardner, Atlanta , Georgia, and Thomasina O'Neal , Raleigh, North Carolina; devoted friends, Billye (Henry) Aaron , Atlanta , Georgia, Bobbie (Henry) Frost, Decatur, Georgia, Bettye (Lewis) Smith, College Park, Georgia, and James (Patsy) Terry, Atlanta , Georgia; committed caretakers , Dufferian Caldwell, Myra Lawrence, Gloria Lewis, Nancy Miller, Gloria Martin , and Matilda Prevost; and numerous other friends .

PRELUDE

Order ofService

PROCESSIONAL
I
WELCOME .......... The Reverend Dr. Dwight D. Andrews 00 oo 00 oo 00 oo 00

HYMN OF COMFORT #184 (AAH) .. ........................................ .. ............... . ''Blessed Assurance"

SCRIPTURE: The Old Testament, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11 .... ....................... The Reverend Norman Rates The New Testament, Mark 12:28-34 ....................... ...... ..... The Reverend George Thomas

PASTORAL PRAYER The Reverend H. Allen Green .oo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . oo. oo oo oo . . . . . . . . . . . oo.oo ........ .... ... oo

SOLO

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Benjamin Polite

Former Student

TRIBUTES:

Mae A. Kendall , The Church, President, Altar Guild

Myra Alexander, President, Kappa Silhouettes

Samuel Hill, Former Principal, Frederick Douglass High School

Ron Sailor, Sr., Former Student, Frederick Douglass High School

MEDLEY OF HYMNS ............... . Trey Clegg oo oo oo 00 oo 00

TRIBUTES : Edna Gardner, Friend James Terry, Family Friend Billye Aaron , Family

SOLO ....................................... ... ... ...... ... .......... .. ...... ... ........ ................ .... ................ Doris Rivers WORDS OF COMFORT ...... ................ The Reverend Dr. Andrews 00 ... .... ............................... .... MUSICAL TRIBUTE ........................... The Reverend Dr. Andrews oo . . ......................................... A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S .. Bobbie Frost 00 oo oo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BENEDICTION

RECESSIONAL