Valla Genorise Curry was born to the union of the late Rev. J.O. and Duree P. Lowe on February 17, 1941.
She departed this life on April 3, 2023, in Bellevue, Nebraska. She received the gift of the holy spirit at
an early age and was a lifelong member of Mt. Nebo CME Church.
She graduated from Lee-Prentiss High School and continued her education at Mississippi Industrial
College, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She went on to teach for 17 years at
Verona Elementary School.
September 5, 1965, she joined in the bonds of holy matrimony with the late Mr. George Cleveland
Curry, and unto this union, three daughters were born, Phelisa, Georgia, and April.
Throughout her life, she was a fierce advocate for the rights of those with special needs. She never
backed down from a challenge. In spite of strong opposition, she succeeded in getting a special
education program at her daughter’s school. She had a way of seeing what was right and how things
should be and was relentless in achieving it for the betterment of all.
She worked just as hard for Mt. Nebo and the community. She worked tirelessly coordinating funding
for building renovation and program counselors for the neighborhood community center. Where she
started a summer program with activities and meals for the neighborhood’s children. She also hosted
many fundraisers for church programs.
Her door was always open to help anyone in the best way that she knew how. Even if it was just to say,
“Come on around, sit down, and get you something to eat.”
She cherished her relationships with family and friends. When she was around, friends knew they were
bound to laugh and have a good time. She touched so many lives and was an inspiration to many. The
love she shared was so precious and will live on in our hearts with the sweet memories of her.
She leaves to cherish her memories of her three daughters, Phelisa Curry, Georgia Curry, and April
(Samara) Jones. One stepson; Carter Scales; two sisters; Sharon (Tommy) Davis; and Cornelia Williams;
one brother Joseph Lowe; six sisters-in-law; Helen Lowe, Janie Lowe, Beatrice Burress Lowe, Cora Dyas,
Jeannie Stubbs, Patty Tucker; one brother-in-law; Larry (Barbara) Curry; seven grandchildren Dwight
Curry, Blake Stewart, Elijah Crump, Nile Stewart, Dureese Jones, Nakeivus Jones, and Semoia Shelton;
three great-grandchildren Andre Curry, Melanie Shelton, Emmitt Payne. Many devoted friends, a host of
nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Cleveland Curry; her parents; Rev. J.O. and Duree P.
Lowe; grandmother; Eliza Lowe; two sisters; Jeanette Elliott, and Hala Peterson; five brothers; James H.
Lowe, Wesley F. Lowe, John D. Lowe, William O. Lowe, and Jerome Lowe; three brothers-in-laws; Charles
Elliott, Max Curry, Kenneth Williams; one sister-in-law; Verda M. Lowe; and one nephew Romell
Peterson.
