Funeral Service Live Stream:
Events
The Visitation will be held on Friday, October 30, 2026 from 11:00AM – 12:00PM ET at the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, located at 14111 Oak Grove Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 (prior to the memorial service).
The Funeral Service will take place on Friday, October 30, 2026 from 12:00PM – 1:00PM ET at the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, located at 14111 Oak Grove Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774. For those unable to attend the service in person, you can participate by viewing the live stream of the the service (please scroll up to see the video).
Obituary
Ms. Vannetta Veronica Alford (Lewis), 83, formerly of Kettering, MD, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, NY. Veronica was born on June 17, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama. She was the youngest child of Robert Louis Alford, Jr. and Eva Mae Strayhand. Veronica graduated from A. H. Parker High School (Birmingham, AL) in 1961 and from Fisk University (Nashville, TN) in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree. She received a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1966.
While a student at Fisk University, Veronica met the love of her life, W. Alton Lewis. Veronica and Alton spent their college days participating in campus greek life as members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, respectively. Veronica was an active and engaged student leader on campus, serving on the Honors Committee, Women’s Senate, and Crosthwaite Hall Dormitory Council. Following graduation, Veronica moved to Washington, D.C. and pursued graduate studies at George Washington University while Alton attended law school at Howard University. The two were married on July 29, 1965. In the summer of 2021, they celebrated 56 wonderful years of married life together.
Veronica began her professional life as a school teacher in Prince George’s County, Maryland in 1966. She taught kindergarten through second grade in Oxon Hill Elementary School in Oxon Hill, Maryland. In 1973, Veronica accepted a position at Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) as an academic advisor. She delighted in meeting with students and in helping young people discern a path forward in their educational pursuits. Veronica would go on to work at PGCC for 44 years, retiring in 2018.
Whip-smart and endlessly curious, Veronica was a voracious reader who could always be found with a book in hand or a mountain of literature piled on her nightstand. Her sharp intellect naturally drew her to the cutting edge of technology. She was a true tech enthusiast who loved exploring the latest gadgets, mastering new devices long before others, and marveling at the ways technology could connect people.
Beyond her digital pursuits, Veronica possessed an extraordinary creative spark. She was a passionate and skilled crafter – with an impressive and extensive craft room – who poured her heart into her projects, turning simple materials into beautiful treasures.
Veronica’s deep Christian faith was the cornerstone of her life. A dedicated member of her church, she shared her wisdom and warmth by teaching Sunday School for many years. Additionally, Veronica truly delighted in children, viewing them as the brightest lights in the world. She made it her personal mission to bring joy into their lives, famously known for her boundless enthusiasm for gift-giving. To Veronica, finding the perfect token to make a child’s eyes light up was one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Surviving is her son, Nicholas Alton Lewis (Janelle Schmouder Lewis), Red Hook, NY. Veronica was the proud grandmother to one grandson, Robert Walter Lewis. She is predeceased by her husband, mother, father, and brother, Ralph Alford. Also surviving are a dear sister-in-law, Shirley McKenzie Lewis, her children, Gregory Lewis, Jacqueline Lewis Tillman, and Michael Lewis, and their families.
A funeral service will take place on Friday, October 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM at St. Barnabas Episcopal Anglican Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, followed by a burial at the St. Barnabas Church cemetery. There will be a viewing just prior to the service beginning at 11:00 AM.
Those who are not able to attend may view the live-streamed service at https://dmvmemorials.com/obituary/vannettaalford
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial contributions to the Ralph Ellison Center at Bard College in the name of “Vannetta Veronica Alford”. The Ralph Ellison Center sponsors paid internships that convene intercollegiate cohorts of students from Bard College and partner HBCUs for an immersive experience in archival research and material culture.
Donations can be made online at: https://bardian.bard.edu/register/ellisoncenter
Donations can also be made by mail:
ATTN: Gift Recorder
Bard College
PO Box 5000
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504
Please make checks out to “Bard College” and reference “Vannetta Veronica Alford” in the comments or memo when making your memorial gift.