Velma Beatrice Skinner was born in Portland, Maine on February 23, 1903, with her mother dying only two months later from blood poisoning from her birth. The family was blessed with a new baby sister, but also the loss of their mother, whom Velma would never know. Although, it could have been easy for her sisters having some resentment towards her with their mother's death, none of her sisters ever said they felt this way, but seemed to be bonded together their entire lives. Her father remained in Portland until 1904 and then moved the family back to Exeter, Maine where his parents lived.
41 Pitt St in 1900 where Velma was born and current photo 1990s
She was raised in Exeter, Maine by her grandparents and later, her oldest sister, Bertha who she looked at as a mother figure in her life. She attended schools in Exeter, Maine, attended Corinna Union Academy for her final years of education.
Velma as a young girlIn 1920, Velma Skinner, age 16 was attending school in Corinna. She appears on the 1920 census of Exeter, Maine with her father, and older sisters, Bertha and Alice. Bertha listed as working in a mill and Alice in a hospital. On the same census of Corinna, Maine, Bertha Skinner, age 28, working as a weaver in a woolen Mill (probably the Kenwood Woolen Mill in Corinna) and Velma Skinner, age 16 was living with her while attended school. Both of them were listed as "roomers" in the household of Elmer and Gladys Hopkins
Velma graduated from Corinna Union Academy in 1924. In August of 1924 Velma married Gus Burton of Corinna, Maine, her fellow classmate.
Velma
Gus and Velma Burton 
Velma may have been in some pain during the honeymoon. They married on Sunday and then the next day on Monday according the same newspaper under Corinna Events that announced their marriage, Velma was hospitalized.
They had one daughter together. He was an Insurance agent and traveled frequently. Gus deserted Velma not long after the birth of his daughter. Their marriage ended when Velma filed for divorce on the grounds of cruel and abusive treatment. Their divorce was granted on October 2, 1929, Bangor, Maine. At the time, Gus was residing in Woodland, Maine where he remarried four months later and had his 2nd child, a son John born six months after his marriage. Velma received custody of their daughter, Marion and Gus did not play a role his daughter's life as her father.
In 1930, Velma S. Burton , age 27, was renting a room at 19 Spring street in Dexter, Maine and was listed as trained nurse. Her daughter, Marion was living with her sister, Alice in Dexter as well. It is not known if it was easier for Alice to care for her niece as she was not working full time, but as an on call nurse, rather than Velma to have her daughter living with her. For a period of time, Velma had to leave her daughter with her sister, Ethelyn's family in Corinna, Maine. A time which Marion remembered her aunt Ethelyn and cousins fondly, but stated she was scared to death of her uncle Don Smith.
By 1931, Velma Burton was employed at the National Confectionary Company, Bangor, Maine and was resided at 266 French Street, a home owned by William and Rose Pennell and probably rented a room with them. In 1932, Velma Burton was still employed at the National Confectionery Company but had moved to 119 Cedar Street, in Bangor, Maine that was listed in the Bangor Directory as the Gorham E. Trott's rooms. She was living there as late as 1933.
But in 1934, Velma Burton had moved to 431 Main Street and was listed with no occupation. This was the same address of John R. Hickson, who was a salesman for the National Confectionery Company where Velma worked as a clerk. John had resided there with his first wife, Mabel (Fish) Hickson until 1933. In 1934, John was residing at 431 Main Street, but his wife had moved to 3 Grace Court. In 1935, both Velma Burton and John Hickson were living at 431 Main St, where she had no occupation and John was still a salesman. John divorced his first wife, Mabel on May 2, 1935 on the grounds of cruel and abusive treatment. It is not know if Velma was working for John as a housekeeper as she was not working at the Confectionery Company and with John no longer married, he may have been in need of someone to take care of himself and his home..
Velma and John Hickson were married on August 9, 1936 in Bangor, Maine. The 1937 directory of Bangor for the previous year, still listed Mrs. Velma Burton residing at 431 Main St. John Hickson adopted her daughter, Marion who then was known as Marion Alice Hickson. The same newspaper issue above that announced John and Velma's marriage, also had an article on John R. Hickson that he attended a National Confectionery Dinner which he announced he was leaving after 16 years to form his own company.
By 1937, Velma Hickson began working at Freese's Department store in Bangor as clerk where she continued to work through out the 1940s.
In 1940, John Hickson, age 27, salesman for a confectionary Co. was living at 431 Main St., Bangor, Maine with his wife, Velma S. Hickson, age 35, a sales lady at a Dept. store; his son, Harold R. Hickson, age 18; and his daughter Charlotte R. Hickson, age 16. It has been suggested that Velma married John Hickson, not out of true love, but more of a convenience of the time period which would allow Velma to live comfortably in a house with her daughter and raise the children of John Hickson as well. This union only lasted 9 years. John Hickson petitioned for divorce from Velma Burton Hickson on the grounds of cruel and abusive treatment and granted his divorce on April 18, 1945.
After her divorce, Velma moved to Essex Street and was a buyer at Freese's Dep. store. She remained single for 7 more years. During that time, her only daughter, Marion married and began her own family. She married a third time to Eddie Russell, a barber in Bangor on October 12, 1952. Her daughter and grandchildren feel she was happy in her marriage to Eddie as they shared a lot of interests together. She also was given the affectionate nickname of G-Russ for Grammie Russell by her grandchildren.
By the 1960s, Velma was an Avon Sales representative which she sold for 30 years.
She is often remembered by family members as always being stylish for the time and always looked her best when she left the house to work or just to go shopping visiting a friend or her family.
In final years, she took care of her older sister, Alice Skinner which was seemed to be a lot for her to handle with own health issues. The sisters often bickered while living together, despite being close most of their adult lives.
Alice and VelmaVelma died Christmas Eve, 1987.
Bangor Daily News, obituary:
BANGOR, Velma S. Russell, 84, of 9 Dayton St., died Dec. 24, 1987, at a Bangor hospital after a brief illness. She was born in Portland, the daughter of Myron and Edna (Southard) Skinner. She was the wife of the late Edward C. Russell, who died in 1977. Mrs. Russell was a longtime member of the Essex Street Baptist Church. She was an Avon sales representative for 30 years and for many years she worked Freeses and Burdells. She is survived by one daughter, Marion Walsh of Bangor; a sister, Alice Skinner of Bangor; nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
She was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery, Bangor, Maine with her sister, Alice. Her third husband, Eddie Russell was buried in Chamberlain Cemetery, Exeter, Maine with Velma's family. It was said that Velma had intended to be buried with Eddie in Exeter, Maine
Augustus Marion Burton and Velma Beatrice Skinner had the following children:
1. Marion Alice [Burton] adopted by Hickson was born on February 20 1926 in Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA. She died on August 30, 2014 in Bangor, Penobscot, Maine, USA. She married Patrick Michael Walsh on June 26, 1947 in Bangor, Penobscot, Maine, USA. Shew as the mother of nine children.
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