Lula Conner, My Four Generations

Lula Connor was born in Willis, Texas. She is the daughter of Oscar and Lizzie Johnson. At a very young age, her family moved to Baytowne, Texas where her father became the Funeral Director of the Collins-Johnson Funeral Home. Lula’s father is deceased, but her mother, Lizzie is still living. Lula lived most of her life in Texas. She attended elementary and junior high there, as well as and graduating from Carver High School in Baytowne, Texas. She then went to Prairie View A&M College for two years.

In 1950, Lula Conner married Alvin Connor and together, they raised two beautiful daughters, Beverly Connor Lewis and Alva Connor McIntyre. The family moved to Champaign in 1968, where Lula’s husband, Alvin, became a Civil Service Employee at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. Alvin passed away in 1965.

As her mother's health declined, Lula brought her from Texas to Champaign, to be close by. Lula’s mother, Lizzie, had always attended and served in many capacities in her church - the St. Luke C.M.E., for many years.

Both of Lula’s daughters are graduates of Champaign Senior High School and were very active in school as well as church activities. After high school graduation, Alva attended and graduated from the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois. She taught at the Jefferson Middle School for 9 years, prior to moving to South Carolina where she now teaches. Beverly completed her Nurses Training at Parkland College and works as a Nurse at the Carle Arbours in Champaign.