Velinda Maria Phifer, age 75 of Troy, Ohio, passed away at 2:17 PM Saturday, September 20, 2025 in the inpatient unit of Ohio's Hospice of Miami County. She was born on July 31, 1950 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Mr. James Walter Beamer and Mrs. Ethel Merritt Beamer.

Along with her parents, Velinda was preceded in death by four siblings.

Those left to cherish Velinda's memory include her beloved husband Sylvester James Phifer Sr. of Troy, OH; daughter Angelina Marie Besecker (Daniel) of Troy, OH; son Sylvester James Phifer Jr. (Abby) of Connecticut; grandchildren Olu Phifer, Chipego Phifer, and Breon Phifer, as well as three great grandchildren.

Velinda was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1964. Recently relocated to Ohio, she was a member of the Troy, Ohio congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses located at the Kingdom Hall on Washington Road in Covington Ohio. She was a retired bank teller with the former National Westminster Bank, however her principal vocation in life was serving as a bible teacher sharing Bible truths with her neighbors.

Services will be held at a later date in Velinda's home state of New York. Arrangements entrusted to Fisher-Cheney Funeral Home, Troy Ohio.