Velma Edmonds celebrated her 100th birthday on June 18, and at a party the day before she was surrounded by family, friends and a few prominent members of the community.
Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle and Mike Lester, assistant chief of police for Vancouver, were in attendance at her party. She was also presented with birthday cards, notes and letters from Washington Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both Democrats, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, Gov. Jay Inslee and former President George W. Bush.
Edmonds was born in Portland, and moved to Vancouver shortly after graduating from Grant High School. Here she met and married Harold Edmonds and raised their four children. Harold Edmonds worked for the Vancouver Police Department, and served as one of Vancouver’s first detectives.
Harold Edmonds died in the late 1960s, and Velma Edmonds found great friendships in the faith community throughout Vancouver. Her faith even led her to travel to visit biblical sites throughout Jerusalem.
