On Monday, January 18th, 2021, Erma June Vinson, of Chesapeake, Virginia, gently left this world at the age of 81.

June grew up near Charleston, West Virginia, and moved to Chesapeake to teach English after graduating from West Virginia Tech. She taught at Great Bridge High School for many years, stepped away to raise her children, and returned to teaching just in time to help start Hickory High School, where she remained until her retirement. She had a positive impact on many students throughout her career.

Always active in the community, she was involved with many civic organizations including the Hickory Ruritan Club, and became a Master Gardener. Her yard was a garden, her garden was prolific, and her cows, sheep, chickens, bees, and ducks always seemed happy. The place was a manifestation of life and love’s bounty under her patient hands. She helped make the people happy, too, by organizing and inspiring a huge production each Christmas of Handel’s Messiah, and took particular delight in the growing attendance every year. She loved her home and her community, and touched as much of it as she could.

Erma June was preceded in death by her husband John, brother Darrell, and parents Ezra and Freda Thornton. She is survived by her three children Danny (wife Janie), Cindy Crook (husband Jeff), and Kristy (Kiki); four grandchildren; and nephew Randy and niece Sandy. There are many who will miss her deeply.

Due to the risks of our current pandemic, there will be a memorial service as soon as it’s possible to do so safely. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to one of these two organizations:

Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center

Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters