Family and friends will gather Friday to celebrate the life of Velia Lockett. Here’s the remembrance being shared with her community:

Velia Renee Lockett, age 68, passed away on Saturday, September 9, 2023.

She was born on May 13, 1955 in Seattle. She was a kind and compassionate person who always put others first. She possessed a fierce and magnetic presence with an energy and warmth that immediately brightened any room she entered. She was not one easily forgotten, even by strangers who were blessed enough to meet her only briefly.

Velia graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle, WA after which she embarked on a long and exciting career as a singer, dancer and entertainer that took her across the globe. Her musical theater performances ranged from starring roles in “West Side Story”, “Guys and Dolls”, and “Purlie.” She appeared in Ben Vereens’s “Get your Boogie Down” which inspired her to produce, direct and choreograph her own new wave shows in local clubs. She featured in Las Vegas revues, won awards for choreography and dance in the International Hair Shows in England and Switzerland. Then known exclusively as “Star,” Velia appeared on TV shows like Star Search, as well as in videos, commercials and the movies “Tap” (1989) and “Salsa” (1988). She also co-produced an award-winning TV show, “D’Maurice and Armageddon” before eventually finding her way back home to Seattle.

In Seattle, she continued to showcase her talents as a dancer, writer and performer. She choreographed the annual Miss Chinatown Beauty Pageant, and also maintained a long career in retail. She worked at Caché and then for the last 19 years at Chico’s in Bellevue Square. Every single day, she touched the lives of her colleagues and customers.

She is survived by her beloved family: her partner Darryl; her nieces Angelia and Elizabeth; and her siblings, Madison, Dorothy, Frederick, and Edric.

She was also deeply spiritual, as a devoted member of Mount Zion Baptist Church for over 30 years, and is also survived by her beloved church community.

We cherish the time we had with Velia and she is forever in our hearts. A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 29th at 11 am at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle. All are welcome.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)