Zadah Vermelle Chapman, a life-long resident of the New Smyrna Beach area died Saturday, December 18 at Vista Manor Nursing Home in Titusville, Florida, where she had resided for the past few months.  She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Nathan Russell and Agnes W. Chapman and her older brother, Lester M. Chapman.

She is survived by her two sons, Thomas Jefferson Hall, III (Olive) of Decatur, Tennessee and Steven Russell Hall (Cathy) of Edgewater.  She also leaves behind her younger sister, Zilliah Jane Gould of New Smyrna Beach.  She left behind five grand-daughters:  Rebecca Vermelle Wedierman, Jupiter, FL., Brenda Bishop of New Smyrna Beach, Kimberly Cloud of Tallahassee, Norma Jean Hall of Port Orange, Amanda Hall, and several great grandchildren. She also leaves behind four nieces and several great nieces and nephews.

Zadah Vermelle Chapman was born October 8, 1929, in Hahira, Georgia and as a toddler was brought to New Smyrna Beach by her parents. She attended local schools and graduated from New Smyrna Beach High on Live Oak Street in June of 1947. She then attended Massey Business College in Jacksonville, Florida and received an Executive Secretarial Degree.  She completed many courses from American Savings and Loan Institute of Chicago, Illinois, receiving many certificates and achievement awards.

From 1957 to 1962, Zadah Vermelle worked at New Smyrna Savings and Loan and worked her way up to becoming loan office manager. In 1962, she went to work at General Electric in Daytona and in 1976 moved to Texas and worked at GE Houston.  She retired from GE Houston in 1986 due to injuries from a car accident and returned to Florida soon after.

After returning to NSB, she established the very first-class reunion for her 1947 graduating class after 42 years. She also spearheaded her 55 ^th class reunion, and decided to invite all NSB High School graduates from the 1930's-1950's.  It was a great success with 153 people in attendance at the Yacht Club.

She loved learning about the stories of her family and therefore became an avid genealogical researcher.  In 2005, Zadah moved to Tifton, GA to work on her maternal family's history.  She wrote several books about the genealogy of her maternal Goff family and her paternal Chapman family.

She was an excellent seamstress and loved making clothes for her family.  She also loved to shop for others.  She would buy children's clothes and shoes and then donate them to area schools for teachers to give to needy children.

Zadah Chapman and her sister, Jane Gould (a retired teacher) co-founded New Smyrna Beach Community and Alumni Providing Scholarships (NSB CAPS) in 1995.  This non-profit organization was established to provide scholarships to many of our local New Smyrna Beach High School graduates to continue their education beyond high school.  Zadah was very elated and proud of establishing CAPS and was thankful that so many community and alumni members partnered with this worthwhile organization to give scholarships to so many.

Zadah Chapman attended Beachside Baptist Church, New Smyrna Beach, for many years and had a very strong faith.

At this time, her and her family's wishes would be that in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Zadah Vermelle Chapman's memory to: NSB CAPS, P.O. Box 1808, New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32170.  There will be a grave side burial service on Monday, December 27, 2021 at 1 PM, at Daytona Memorial Park North, 1428 Bellevue Ave, Daytona Beach, FL.

Lohman's Funeral Home Daytona Chapel is in charge.