Velda Rose Hammons, 70, of Lufkin, Texas, formerly of Rector, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005, at Memorial Hospital in Lufkin.

Mrs. Hammons was born July 13, 1935, in Marmaduke to the late Lawson Lee and Lutie Olevia Swindle. She resided in Lufkin for more than 25 years. Prior to that, she lived in Houston, Texas, and Northeast Arkansas.

She graduated from Rector High School in 1952 and from the University of Houston with a bachelor's degree in 1955. She was an avid painter and took classes and taught classes at Angelina College. She was a teacher and taught school at Central High School and the State School in Lufkin for a number of years. She also taught English as a Second Language at schools in Tyler, Texas, as well as the state prison in Lufkin.

She loved to play bridge and worked with the Friends of the Library in Lufkin. She also was an advocate for the rights of the disabled, and while she was bound to a wheelchair for more than 35 years, she did not let that slow her down.

Survivors include her sons, Eugene C. Hammons Jr. of Phoenix, Ariz.; David Lee Hammons of Austin, Texas; sons and daughters-in-law, Rev. Timothy J. and Elisa Hammons of Aiken, S.C.; John Paul and Marla Hammons of Irvine, Calif.; son, Stokely M. Hammons of Lufkin; seven grandchildren, and her sister, Marvelle Harmon of Sherwood, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Bobby Swindle of Lufkin.

Memorial services were held at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, in the Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home Chapel at Lufkin with Rev. Mark O'Neill officiating.