Vernelle Severs Dyess

Vernelle Severs Dyess was born July 7, 1953 in Tucson, Arizona to Thelma and Jerry Severs. She was the youngest of five siblings. She started school at the age of four because of her maturity and was educated in Tucson School District One, graduating from Tucson High School in 1970 at the age of 16. In 1973, Vernelle and her two beautiful daughters moved to Las Vegas to join her sister Betty. She worked at Special Children's Clinic and furthered her education at Clark County Community College. She also worked for many years at Harris Springs Ranch in Mount Charleston and with the youth at Westcare in the field of drug rehabilitation. Vernelle enjoyed people and was a great encourager, never treating anyone like a stranger. Vernelle was first saved in the African Methodist Episcopal Church at a young age. She served the Lord in several churches here in Las Vegas including Bethany, St. John, Vegas View, High Praise and Divine Holiness Christian Temple. She was called to the ministry and ordained as an Elder. She assisted pastors, participated in jail and prison ministry, visited hospitals, and was an intercessory prayer warrior, along with preaching and teaching the gospel. On August 23rd, 1993 Vernelle married the love of her life, Earl Lee Dyess. Together they parented her five children and three of their grandchildren. Her youngest two children, Charla and Brandon, proceeded her in death. Earl and Vernelle enjoyed almost 25 years of marriage. They kept their vows to stay through better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health. They spent the last several years lovingly caring for each other and their grandchildren through tragedy, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Vernelle was full of laughter and jokes. She was just funny. Her hobby was scaring people in the most creative ways. She loved children and family. She was known for singing praise songs and reading and studying the word of God. She just loved people and helped everyone she could. Most of those people would have a funny story about her. She collected children and constantly took people in. She fulfilled the scripture “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’”??Matthew? ?25:35-36? ?NIV?? She was proceeded in death by her father Jerry, her mother Thelma, her sisters Virginia Wallace and Elizabeth Howard, daughter Charla and son Brandon Sr. Left to remember her love and her laughter are her devoted husband, Earl Lee Dyess of Las Vegas, NV; children, Tori (Jermaine) Jones of Crystal, MN, Pastor Ericka L. Severs and Bret Severs of Las Vegas, NV. Special daughter and son, Virginia Moten and Dwight Scott; Two sisters, Jerine Hatley of Arkansas, Afiya Bimkubwa of Las Vegas, and one brother Reginald Howard also of Las Vegas; one aunt, Bennie Mae; 17 grandchildren Brandi, Joshua, Jermaine, Jr., Noah, Michael, Bret, Jr., Jai'la, Jalan, Branden, Bishop, Brandon Jr., Niyogi, Camella, Renisha, Jamilah, Betty Jean, and Semaj, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and many, many friends.

Vernelle Severs Dyess

July 7, 1953 - July 28, 2018