Rochelle was born January 13, 1938 in Louisville, Mississippi. She was a daughter of the late John Raymond Clark and Evelyn Sharp Clark.
She married at the age of 17 and as the wife of a soldier, was able to travel the world for the next 24 years. She lived in Germany for 9 years and travelled throughout Europe. She visited many castles and the forests of Bavaria. She visited Italy twice and saw the sites of Rome, Pompeii, and Pisa. She travelled through Austria as well.
She had a life-long love of the printed word. She worked at the Stars and Stripes book store in Kitzingen, Germany. From there, she transitioned into working for libraries. She began in Hawaii and concluded by retiring from the Dickson County Public Library in Dickson, TN.
During her years as an Army wife, she lived all over the United States. From Georgia to Hawaii and several places in between. Kentucky and Tennessee were her favorites though. Living in Tennessee, she became a true lover of wildlife in its many forms. From the local deer, turkeys, and birds to the elk and buffalo at Land Between the Lakes park in KY. She loved to visit LBL in the fall and listen to the elk bugle.
During her retirement years she became the family historian. She worked tirelessly for many years on her family tree. She amassed quite the collection of information concerning the family. She was even instrumental in discovering a lost family cemetery in the woods surrounding Dekalb, MS.
In addition to her parents, Vera was preceded in death by her sister, Patsy Clark Besser.
Mrs. Vera Rochelle Higginbotham is survived by her husband, Ernest Clinton Higginbotham; her three sons, Jeff Higginbotham (Donna), Steve Higginbotham (Cynthia), and Russ Higginbotham (Patt); and her granddaughter, Rebecca Higginbotham.
Pursuant to her wishes, Rochelle has been cremated and private memorial services will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Friends of Land Between the Lakes (friendsoflbl.org).
