Celebrating Her Spirit "A hat is an expression of a woman's soul. It is something that she wears on her head, but it belongs to her heart. It is the keynote of her personality, the finishing touch that makes her look beautiful, smart and sure of herself." Lilly Dache Mrs. Velma C. Swain Dawson was a woman whose head-turning, gorgeous hats added the finishing touch to her impeccable style. She was a woman who never "half-stepped," when it came to dressing, which meant coordinating her hat, gloves, purse and shoes. It was always her way until February 21, 2019, when God called her name...and she gained her wings. Mrs. Dawson was born on December 27, 1927 in Barnett, Warren County, Georgia to the union of Mr. David E. and Daisy P. (Trimble) Swain. She was the youngest of four children and the only daughter blessed to David and Daisy. Her ranking as the "baby girl" of the family of three brothers gave her a special status in her father's eye. As a child, she shopped for her own outfits in the Sears & Roebuck Catalog, ordering anything she wanted. It was undoubtedly the foundation of her sense of style and love affair with fashion. She loved the Lord and gave her life to Christ at the young age of 11, joining her first church in Barnett, Georgia. She married Evans Dawson on November 23, 1943. Their union was blessed with two children; a son, Thaddaus E. Dawson, Sr. and a daughter, Carolyn Dawson, who preceded her in death. Mrs. Dawson and her children moved from Georgia to the beautiful City of Cincinnati in 1949, where she reunited with her parents and began a new life as a single mother. She joined First New Shiloh Baptist Church in 1962, under the leadership of the Reverend M.J. Mangham, where she served on her first Nurses Guild. Although, Mrs. Dawson did not complete high school, her ambition, tenacity and drive provided her with the means to succeed against all odds. She raised her children and went to nursing school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The State of Ohio granted her license on August 7, 1972, which remained active until October 31, 2016. She spent most of her nursing career as a private duty nurse, caring for the loved ones of prominent Cincinnati families. In 1997, Mrs. Dawson joined New Jerusalem Baptist Church under the phenomenal leadership of the Reverend Damon Lynch, Jr. New Jerusalem Baptist Church became a second home for Mrs. Dawson. She was an active member of the Red Hat Society and served as the head of the Nurses Guild for four years until her health failed. She was blessed with a great sense of humor and enjoyed life. She surrounded herself with family and friends and enjoyed being a part of outings, traveling, and social events. Mrs. Dawson was also fiercely independent, driving and living on her own until she passed. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Swain; her siblings, Eddie B. (Hazel) Swain, William (Ruthie) Swain, and Otis (Ann) Swain. Her spirit, laughter and love will forever be treasured by her son, Thaddaus E. (Jo Alice) Dawson, Sr.; six grandchildren, Marcus (Carol) Dawson (Carolyn's only son) of Pensacola, FL. her son's Thaddaus' five children: Angela (Erick) Dawson Dunn of Lorton, VA; Thaddaus E. (Kelle) Dawson, Jr. of Atlanta, GA; Michael (Dora) Dawson of Cincinnati, OH; Keilah Dawson, FNP-C of Savannah, GA; Kharalyn (Nana) Mintah, LPN of Monroe, OH. Thaddaus' . She also leaves behind a host of great grandchildren and God-daughter Patricia Campbell. Cemetery Details Union Baptist Cemetery 4933 Cleves-Warsaw Pike Cincinnati, OH 45238 Service

MAR 1. 1:00 AM - 2:00 PM (ET)

New Jerusalem Baptist Church

26 W. North Bend Road

Cincinnati, OH 45216

http://newjerusalembc.org

Visitation

MAR 1. 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (ET)

New Jerusalem Baptist Church

26 W. North Bend Road

Cincinnati, OH 45216

http://newjerusalembc.org