Vida Louise Holden Bottom's Obituary
Vida Louise Holden Bottom, 87 of Oakland, CA passed away on January 28,2019.
She was born in Hallettsville, Texas on February 26, 1931 to Aaron Holden and Josepheine Holden. She was the youngest of nine children whom have all preceded her death. She graduated from Yoakum High School and pursued a Bachoelor of Arts degree at Huston-Tillotson College. In her third year of college she met her first husband Earnest Marvin Flowers. Upon this union she settled in Harlingen, Texas and gave birth to two sons; Barry Burnell Flowers and Willie Coleman Flowers. After seven years of marriage she divorced and moved to Oakland, California where she met the love of her life Richmond Samuel Bottom. Vida and Richmond married and through this union she gave birth to three daughters; Richetta Louise Bottom, Vida Geosette Bottom, and Patricia Katina Bottom. Vida Louise Bottom went on to pursue her certification in Nursing and was employed at Herrick Memorial Hospital and Highland Hospital. Vida and Richmond Bottom both had an entrepreneurial spirt, after many years of planning they opened Vida’s Fish Market on July 17, 1981. Vida and Richmond worked side by side with their children to build Vida’s Fish Market as one of Oaklands’s Mom and Pop success stories of recent times. In 2001 Richmond Samuel Bottom passed away unexpectedly and Vida continued to operate Vida’s Fish market with her youngest daughter Patricia Bottom-Long until her retirement in 2012. She is survived by her children B arry Burnell Flowers, Willie Coleman Flowers (preceded in death). Richetta Louise Bottom, Vida Geosette Bottom, Patricia Katina Bottom-long (son-in-law Ian L. Long) and two grandchildren;her namesake Vida Louise Long, and Joshua Samuel Long. Vida Louise Bottom died peacefully on January 28, 2019 at her home with her children by her side. Vida leaves numerous family, lifelong friends, and acquaintances in various cities and throughout the country. She will be remembered by her steadfast determination to overcome adversity and strived to make a positivie difference in her children’s lives and so many others.
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