Mrs. Lula Bell Swope

Mrs. Lula Bell Swope was born on June 13, 1926 to Andy and Thenie (Payton) Mallory in Evansville, Indiana. She was the first of three children. She was preceded in death by siblings Edna and Andrew Mallory, her husband, Henry Swope, Sr., and her son, Henry Swope, Jr. Lula accepted Christ at a young age. She worshipped at Independence Baptist Church in Evansville, Indiana. She later joined Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Milwaukee under the leadership of the late Dr. Louis S. Beauchamp, and she is a founding member of the Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Milwaukee where the late Dr. E. L. Thomas was the organizer. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1944, in Evansville. On April 21, 1950, she married Henry Swope in Washington, Indiana. In 1956, the Swope family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they raised their family. They were blessed with two children - Henry Jr. and Sonna. Lula worked as a crossing guard when her children were young. Later, she worked in admissions at st. Michael's Hospital. Lula became an educator with Milwaukee Public Schools, working with special education students for 30 years. She attended Alverno College where she was hired as an Ombuswoman to mentor and support other students. She went on to earn a Bachelors Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1980. Lula was a very giving person and enjoyed helping others. She led the tutoring program at Antioch, and she organized and ran the Tutorial Program at Victory. She and her husband were a team at Victory; she led tutoring, and he provided security for the tutoring program . She loved to have fun and enjoyed traveling, ceramics, bingo, casinos and shopping. Lula belonged to Gamma Phi Delta, Inc., Gamma Nu Chapter Sorority. She went on several cruises with her friends. She also enjoyed spending time with, and raising each generation of her grandchildren. They all loved their grandmother and considered her home their second home. Lula Bell Swope departed this life on December 2, 2012 while at Season Hospice and Palliative Care, Waukesha, Wisconsin. Lula Bell leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Sonna (Darryl) Humphries of Hammond, IN; daughters-in-law, Kathy (Randy) Williams of Milwaukee, WI, and Joan Swope of Racine, WI; (5) grandchildren, Mikesha (Timothy) Crawford of Milwaukee, Darryl (Aja) Swope, Sr. of Phoenix, AZ, Danielle Swope of Milwaukee, Ashley Swope of Racine, WI, and Nkenge Humphries of Hammond, IN; (6) great-grandchildren, Kyla Russell, Classie Swope, Jeremiah Russell, Darryl Swope, Jr. and Jayden Swope; sisters-in-law, Louise Swope of Evansville, IN, and Willa Mae Swope of Gary, IN; brother-in-law, James (Mary) Swope of Evansville, IN; nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends.

Mrs. Lula Bell Swope

June 13, 1926 - December 2, 2012