Verna Phelps

Verna was born in Beaver Dam, KY to the late Alvie Stewart Southard and Margaret Jane (May) Southard. After the family moved to Louisville, Verna worked in various retail and bookkeeping positions in her teens, including Waterman's Department Store and later, Nicholson & Steber.

Verna was known for her excellent cooking, including her Jam Cakes and Friendship Cakes around Christmastime. She won several ribbons at the KY State fair. Verna served several years as a room mother and reading tutor at Kenwood Elementary, and was an excellent seamstress.

She enjoyed travel, often to the Smokies or Michigan. On a trip to Arizona & Utah, she took her first airplane ride and also a ride in a hot air balloon.

Verna was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Wesley Phelps, by sisters lona J. Hall and Anna L. Cornett, brother B. H. Southard, and nephew Martin Cornett.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Julie Lamkin (Kevin), nieces Rebecca Elkins and Patrice Chapman (Dan); brothers in-law Bob Phelps (Doris) and Floyd Phelps (Sally); and extended Phelps family.

The family requests any memorial floral arrangements purchased for the service to be live flowers so they can be taken to the graveside.

Visitation will be from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions - Southwest Louisville Chapel, (10304 Dixie Hwy). Her Funeral Service will be at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions - Southwest Louisville Chapel with burial to follow at Bethany Memorial Cemetery (10917 Dixie Hwy Louisville, Kentucky 40272).

The family also requests any memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to Hosparus in Louisville.

To share a memory of Verna or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.