VENORA was born on May 19, 1926 to the Late Leslie and Vassie Judge in Duplin County, North Caralina. Three months after Venora's birth, Vassie passed away and Venora was adopted by her Aunt and Uncle, Pearl and David Jones who lived in Wilmington, NC. Venora had a comfortable and secure life in Wilmington until David Jones would suddenly pass away when Venora was ten years old. After David's death, Pearl and Venora moved to Washington, DC because Pearl was a World War I veteran's wife, she could get employment in the Federal government.

Venora did well in Washington. She attended the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church and had an active social life. She was admitted to the prestigious Dunbar High School and graduated in 1943. Also, because this was during wartime, Venora worked part time for the War Department while still in school. After graduating from Dunbar High School, Venora completed the curriculum and graduated from the Cortez Peters Business School in 1945. Venora was a quiet person but very observant of others. Her Dunbar Year Book defines her as fastidious (very attentive to and concern about accuracy and detail). Her favorite quotation identified in the Cortez Peters Year Book is "From the errors of others, a wise man corrects his own."

In 1944, she met Private Norman Anderson, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at a dance for the Fort Meade soldiers. A year later they were married and had a 60- year marriage full of love and respect until Norman's death in 2005. After marrying Norman and moving to Philadelphia, Venora worked for the Veteran Administration in the insurance department until she retired in 1983. During their marriage, Venora and Norman loved to travel often with friends and other Veteran Administration co-workers. Their travels included trips to Mexico, Canada, the Far East including locations in Japan and Hong Kong, and to various locations in the United States including Hawaii and Las Vegas.

Also, after moving to Philadelphia, Venora joined Norman's Calvary St. Augustine Episcopal Church and became an active member. In later years, she served on the Church's Vestry and enjoyed attending the Church's social activities including becoming a member of the Church's Red Hatter club that took trips and had organized activities for club members. Venora also was very good in mathematics and in her eighties, she was a tutor with the adult basic education program at the church. Venora also was one of best card players and could beat all of the family members at family gatherings.

Norman and Venora had one daughter, Brenda, who they both loved and adored and they did everything they could to give her the type of life that would result in a self-assured, independent, successful, and respectful woman. During their marriage, Venora and Norman believed that the best way to be good parents was to lead by example.

Venora lived a long a happy life in good health and has outlived her contemporaries. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Anderson, two sisters, Ethel Mae Judge Pryor, and Dezoria Judge Fladger, and one brother, Levon Judge.

Venora leaves to cherish her memory her daughter: Brenda Anderson James; son in law: Barbarol J. James, and a host of family members including cousins, nieces and nephews.