Velma Thomas

About

Multi award-winning author, historian, reverend, and public speaker highly reputed for her nonfiction works including the Alex Award-earning interactive book "Lest We Forget: The Passage from Africa to Slavery and Emancipation." Her expertise has been appointed by numerous publications and academic journals, as well as the 2012 PBS documentary, Underground Railroad: The William Still Story. 

Before Fame

She graduated from Howard University with a bachelor's degree in journalism before going on to earn her master's degree in political science from Emory University. In 1987, she began managing the Shrine of the Black Madonna Bookstore and Cultural Center, where she developed the ubiquitously lauded Black Holocaust Exhibit. 

Trivia

Amongst numerous additional accolades, she was the recipient of the 2004 Award for Excellence in Research Using the Holdings of an Archives by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board.

Family Life

She is the daughter of Otis Thomas and Emma Thomas Daniels. She was married to her husband Reverend Milton Fann for 29 years until his passing in 2018. Together, they had 1 son named Olu Fann, famously known by his stage name Johnny Venus. 

Associated With

Along with other illustrious Americans including Jesse Jackson, Maxine Waters, and Maya Angelou, she was a contributor to the 2000 book "Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Celebration of the Negro National Anthem: 100 Years, 100 Voices."