Dozier, Verna J.

Verna Josephine Dozier was born in Washington, D.C. on October 9, 1917. She was the older of two daughters of Lonna and Lucie Dozier. Verna's sister, Lois Gertrude, was born on May 1, 1919. Verna attended and graduated early from Dunbar High School, and then enrolled in Howard University. She graduated from Howard in 1937 with a bachelor's degree in English and then received her master's from Howard in English Literature the following year.

After receiving her master's degree, Verna began working for the DC Public Schools system. She taught English at Brown Junior High and Cardoza and Ballou High Schools totaling a combined 34 years. In 1959, at Ballou, Verna was named Chairman of the English Department and was advisor for the school newspaper. She would progress professionally and, in 1968, became Curriculum Specialist in English and a team leader for the Urban Teachers Corps. In 1972, as Assistant Director for the Department of English, Verna helped create and lead a Title III grant to develop new curricula in collaboration with both teachers and students. At the age of 57, Verna retired from the DC Public Schools system and started to focus on what would become her second career.

Verna's religious life began at the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church where she attended services with her mother and sister. In college she would attend services at the Howard University chapel, often accompanied by her agnostic father. In the 1950s, Verna began to grow a reputation as a skilled teacher of scripture and would increasingly participate in activities of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, even teaching at the Diocesan School of Christian Living.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, with her reputation spreading, Verna began to work with women's groups and, in particular, the Episcopal Church Women. It was at this time that a close friendship with Dee Hahn-Rollins (nee Hahn) would develop. This friendship continued until the end of Verna's life; Ms. Hahn-Rollins would act as executrix of Verna's estate.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Verna dedicated her time to her second career as lay theologian. She travelled the country and world teaching scripture, attending national and local church conferences, consulting to church groups, participating in and leading adult religious education events, and attending ecumenical conferences. It is at this time that Verna started to publish her teachings and writings. She published Equipping the Saints, a guide to studying scripture, in 1981. The following year Verna published an influential book encouraging laity to be more active and proactive in the ministry of the Church titled The Authority of the Laity.

The Dream of God: A Call to Return, Verna's most influential and resonating book, was published in 1991. This is during a prolific era for Verna when her time and teachings were in high demand. She would do many interviews, contribute chapters to several books, and publish many articles about her work and mission; most of which can be found in this collection. Verna was even an adjunct professor here at Virginia Theological Seminary teaching a class on the New Testament with Barbara Hall.

In 1992, Verna moved into Collington Episcopal Life Care Community in Mitchellville, Maryland, with her sister Lois. This would be their last residence. Lois, lifelong friend, companion, and roommate, died in 1998. Verna continued to travel, speak and write after moving into Collington, but the pace slowed greatly as the new millennium approached and the affects of Parkinson's disease increased. Although fairly incapacitated for the last several years, Verna still welcomed guests and enjoyed it when friends would read to her from the Bible or the writings of Shakespeare. Verna Josephine Dozier died September 1, 2006.

From the description of Verna J. Dozier Papers, 1975-2003, 1940-2006. (Virginia Theological Seminary). WorldCat record id: 722370066