Vera Israel

When Vera Thomason Israel opened her eyes Sunday afternoon, September 5, 2021, she was met by her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ and a host of loved ones that have gone before her.

Born Vera Estelle Thomason in Whitney SC on February 23, 1938 to James Leroy and Nora Gilliam Thomason, Vera was the third of 10 children.  Though they were not rich, they were not poor for they had the love of godly parents and each other.

Vera believed laughter and music are good for the soul.  Nothing made her happier than playing the piano in the home she grew up in surrounded by her sisters and brothers singing and laughing.  Whether it was Christmas carols, old hymns learned as a child or her signature “Black Hawk Waltz”, music was her happy place.

Vera graduated from Spartanburg High School, Class of 1956, and went on to Spartanburg General Hospital where she earned her Nursing degree in the Class of 1959.  Over Vera’s 56-year nursing career, she met, learned from, and mentored some of Spartanburg’s finest medical associates.  But, of all the people, the ones she loved and admired most were Doctors Walt Hastings, Pepper Hague and Ernest Camp.  They helped shape our Mother into the caregiver she was until this very day.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Robert “Bob” Israel; her sons, Rob of Inman and Greg (Angi) of Union; her daughter, Pam Sargent (JT) of Boiling Springs; her 7 grandchildren, Jarrett (Bailey), Jessica (Nick), Jacob (Amanda), Brandon (Heather), Summer (Jonathan), Caroline (Conner) and Galen; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dot Hammett of Campobello, Joyce Mintz of Spartanburg, Vivian Raines (Ray) of Spartanburg, Alma Montemayor (Monty) of Dallas, TX and Freida Martin of Spartanburg; brothers, Claude Thomason (Pam) of Spartanburg and Lynn Thomason (Patsi) of Spartanburg; and 12 wonderful nieces and nephews, whom she would charge to carry on her legacy of kindness and compassion.

Vera was predeceased by an infant son, Jeffrey Lynn Israel; a daughter-in-law, Debbie Terry Israel; a sister, Lucile Parks; a brother, Harold Thomason; and three nephews, Rodney Thomason, Donnie Hammett and Travis Montemayor.

The family will receive friends from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 9, 2021, at Floyd’s Boiling Springs Chapel, 4161 Highway 9 North, Boiling Springs, SC 29316. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Tim Hackett, Ms. Leigh Kyzer and Mrs. Mary Giovannetti.  Burial will be in Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery, 1551 Bryant Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Vera T. Israel, RN to the Mary Black School of Nursing, c/o University of South Carolina-Upstate, 800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

The family will be at Vera’s childhood home, 139 Mapletree Lane, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

Floyd’s Boiling Springs Chapel