Verda Currie

Verda Anthony Currie, “Tony,” of Temple Hills, MD, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday, November 3, 2024. 

Verda was born at home in Ellisville, MS, on January 30, 1948. He was the third of six children born to Florine and Brewel Currie, Sr. As a young boy, Verda was often found in the shade of a tree reading books instead of doing his farm chores. 

Verda graduated from Roosevelt High School and was awarded the prestigious Masonite Corporation scholarship, which he used for his education at Tuskegee University. Around this time, Verda started referring to himself as Tony. At Tuskegee, he went through the mechanical engineering school alongside the inventor of the super soaker and partied to the music of the Commodores when they were just a cover band. Tony graduated from Tuskegee and entered graduate school at Texas A&M University. During this time he interned with NASA, showing so much capability that the professionals once asked him to fix something for them. After Texas, he transferred to The University of Michigan where he completed his Master’s degree in electrical engineering. 

With his education completed, Verda entered the federal government civil service, where he would stay with the Department of Defense for his entire career. Over 34 years, he moved around frequently - herding the family from Texas to Michigan to Florida and finally settling in the Washington, DC area. Verda progressed through the ranks working with the US Army Tank-Automotive Command, Air Force Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, and the US Army Cost & Economic Analysis Branch, retiring in 2004. He was part of or led teams on many prominent projects; we don’t exactly know which, as that information was classified.

Verda and Margarette Currie had three girls in three states. Andrea Verna was born in Mississippi, Sonya Marie was born in Texas, and Netisha Caresse was born in Maryland.

Verda had a massive amount of knowledge stored in his head. He was happiest standing at the grill with a cigarette perched between his lips and a cold beer in hand. He loved traveling, good stories, time with family and friends, sci-fi shows and movies, and the Dallas Cowboys. He played in softball and bowling leagues for several years and frequented social establishments such as the Oak Tree and King Street Blues. He wore many hats outside of work: remodeling his home like Bob the Builder, building computers from scratch like the Geek Squad, fixing cars and other things like Mr. Fix-It, and generally tinkering with all things like Mr. Wizard. Tony was full of light and joy and lived life to the fullest.

Verda is reunited in heaven with his parents, Florine and Brewel E. Currie, Sr., his baby sister, Barbara Diane Ruffin, and his brother-in-law, Calvin Coleman, Sr.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughters Andrea, Sonya (Troy), and Netisha; his grandchildren: Timothy (Christina), Karlos (Ekaete), Joshua, Kiara (Marcellus), Troy Jr., and Shamira; great-grandchildren: Cameron, Timothy, Jr., Savannah, Mason, Kamari, Chase, Khaleesi, Mylah, and Khlo; siblings: Flossie (Calvin), Brewel (Darlene), Anita, and Malcolm (Doris); a host of loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and extended family members.

Tony will be missed by all who knew and loved him. 

Our hearts still ache in sadness, 
and secret tears still flow. 
What it meant to lose you,
no one will ever know.

Family and friends are welcome to gather Friday, November 15, 2024, from 3pm-5pm at Lee Funeral Home, Inc., with a memorial service beginning at 5pm. A funeral service will be held in Ellisville, MS, at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, November 23, 2024, starting at 11am.

Please follow the link to view Verda Anthony Currie's Celebration of Life Service

www.youtube.com/live/KuZGuvmyzLE