Mrs. Vernilla Glenn, 92

 VernillaTurnage Glenn, the youngest daughter of Luther James Turnageand Maggie Buchanan, was born and reared in the St. James community in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.  She was baptized and nurtured at St. James AME Zion Church, a church of which her great grandfather was the organizing pastor in the early 1880s.  She received her early education at St. James Elementary School, through the 4^th grade.  She later transferred to Coulter Memorial Academy in Cheraw, SC in the 5^th grade, and continued her studies there throughout high school and Jr. College.  It was at Coulter Academy where she met the love of her life, Casper Glenn, in 1939. 

Always a wiz in math, Vernillareceived an academic scholarship to attend Johnson C. Smith University, where she majored in Mathematics.  As a result of her academic achievement, she was elected to the National Honorary Scientific Society of Beta Kappa Chi in 1944.  Later receiving her Master’s Degree in Education from San Diego State University, and having graduated with a 4.0 GPA, she was elected to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi in 1977.   She also was a graduate student in Mathematics at Stanford University and the University of Arizona.  Both of these opportunities were made possible by grants from the National Science Foundation.  Vernilla used her God-given gift in mathematics to teach hundreds of youth for over 30 years. 

While education was very high on her list of priorities, Vernilla put family and service to others above everything else.  By the time all three of her children turned 6 years old, they had their own library cards.  For her, education and church were paramount.  She wanted her children to get a good education, and a deep grounding in the Christian faith.  She put her teaching career on hold, from the time of the birth of her 1^st child until the last one attended kindergarten.   She then returned to her beloved career as a Mathematics teacher.  Over the years Vernilla was involved in countless community initiatives.  She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, Math Tutor, and YWCA Teen Advisor.  She was honored to be elected as an elder in 4 different Presbyterian churches, including one in Nairobi, Kenya.
Vernilla was preceded in death by her two older sisters, Louise Ford and Vernette Evans. She is survived by her three children, June Glenn Lawson, MD(General Practitioner), Joy Ahmad, MA (Counselor), Casper T. Glenn, MD, (Emergency Medicine), 9 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and her her husband of over 70 years, Casper T. Glenn.
Gravesides service will be Friday August 7, 2015 @ 11:00am Shiloh Presbyterian Church cemetery.  Visitation will be Thursday August 6, 2015 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at The Russell-McCutchen Funeral 
Home Chapel.