For generations to come, families will walk under her name to enjoy a picnic, community event, live music and so much more. Mayor Vera Calvin is much more than the namesake for the city's plaza area in Old Town. She was a visionary, an advocate who led with a servant's heart. Our community will strive to honor her passion, enthusiasm and resilience.
Mayor Calvin passed away on February 16, 2022. Her funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 22, at First United Methodist Church, 590 NE McAlister Rd, Burleson. A visitation will be held from 6 - 8 p.m. Monday, February 21 at Mountain Valley Funeral Home, 3407 SW Wilshire Blvd, Joshua. A memorial wreath has been placed at Mayor Vera Calvin Plaza, 141 W Renfro, Burleson.
Mayor Calvin was a trailblazer in her own right, serving as Burleson's only female mayor. Before serving as mayor, she was elected to the city council in 1980, only the second woman ever to be elected to the city council. She served her first term from 1980 to 1984 and a second term from 1987 to 1992, serving as Mayor for the last four years. For seven of the nine years she served, she was the only woman on the council.
"I had the honor of dedicating the Plaza with Vera in May 2021," states Mayor Chris Fletcher. "We will be forever indebted to her vision for this public space. Burleson is lucky to have called her our own, and our thoughts and prayers are with her many family and friends."
While serving Burleson as a councilmember and mayor, she was involved in the Comprehensive 20/20 Plan, purchasing the interurban building for a museum and visitor center, a recycling center, a D.A.R.E. program, and a separate facility for the police department and other projects.
The city council honored her by naming "Mayor Vera Calvin Plaza" in August 2013 near the city hall and the Museum/Visitor's Center. The plaza, which at the time included the Burleson Visitors Center, Rail Car #330 and Parlor Car #411. When the plaza was expanded to serve as a large public space in 2019, the city council decided the new area would also bode her name.
Vera Calvin and her husband, Stacy, moved to Burleson in 1957 with their two daughters. They both became involved in community, school, church and county activities.
Vera earned her Licensed Vocational Nurse Certification from Johnson County Hospital in 1967 and later an Associate Degree in Nursing from Tarrant County Junior College in 1974. She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She was a grandmother of four when she completed her goal of graduating college and becoming a nurse.
Fort Worth State School employed her from 1976 until 1993 for a total of almost 18 years. She took classes from East Texas State University while working full time and earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration in 1984 with a GPA of 3.28.
Other services included Johnson County Child Protective Board for two terms, including Chairman and Legislative Liaison. She served on the North Central Texas Council of Government's Health & Human Services and Drug Abuse Board. She was named Johnson County Precinct 2 Justice of Peace 1995-1996.
She is a lifetime member of Burleson Chamber of Commerce, was Director for two terms, and was Citizen of the Year in 1993. She is a member of the First United Methodist Church, Burleson Historical Society, Eumathian Club and Athena Society of Burleson. She has received many awards and honors from other organizations.
We hope that you find Mayor Vera Calvin's work and legacy an inspiration and that you are inspired to serve your community.