LULA CANNEDY

Celebrating of Life

Lula Pearl (Seay) Cannedy

Lula was born April 22, 1942 in rural Autauga County, near Selma, Alabama, to the union of John and Creola Lamar Seay. She was the younger of two daughters. Her parents and sister, Johnnie Mae Hammond, preceded her in death.

Lula was married to the love of her life James Cannedy Jr. of Greenville, Alabama on July 31, 1976. James and Lula participated in numerous political and civic events.  Lula traveled with James to baseball games and watched him entertain the crowd with his umpiring prowess. James preceded her in death on January 4, 1990.

She always expressed the happy times of her early childhood and education in Beatrice, Alabama. Those times with family, cousins and friends remained priceless memories.

The family eventually transitioned to Autauga County, Alabama, where she graduated from Autauga County Training School in Autaugaville, Alabama in 1961.

She accepted the Lord and Savior at Brien Chapel AME in Burnsville, Alabama. She was devoted to her faith, always joining, and participating in a local church wherever she lived.

Her most tenured membership was Butler Chapel AME Zion, Greenville, Alabama. While living in Maryland she was a member of Queen’s Chapel United Methodist. Delighting in service, Lula cultivated many relationships through church ministries and women organizations.  During her medical recuperation in Fort Worth, Texas, she joined Beth Eden Baptist Church, and lastly, The Potters House of Fort Worth Texas.

Lula attended Selma University and received B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama.

After college, she became a librarian at Lomax-Hannon Junior College in Greenville, Alabama.

Lula loved her career as librarian and teacher.  She was dedicated to her students and enjoyed mentoring and encouraging them to achieve their highest purpose. She volunteered and spearheaded many student and community events.

One of her favorite interests was researching, documenting, and sharing family history. Lula was a gifted researcher with a strong thirst to know from whence she came. Museums, Presidential libraries, and archives were among her favorite destinations. Although she did not drive, she was resolute in getting to any destination in Alabama, Maryland and Texas. Sharing history with family and teaching children were her passions. She shared accounts of the African American experience and the Civil Rights Movement.  Lula had a sincere desire to make a positive impact in the lives of children showing a personal interest in their development and progress.

Lula never missed an opportunity to travel and discover new and exciting places.  “I never thought in my life I’d have an opportunity to visit significant historical sites in Washington DC.”  Her many creative interests included quilting, sewing, and gardening.  She participated in many quilting groups in Alabama, Maryland, and Texas.

Auntie, as she was affectionately known, leaves a huge void in the lives of her family who knew and loved her the most: nieces: Jerilyn Edmonds and Demetrice (Vance) Johnson; nephews: Charles A. McCorvey and Derrick (Colette) McCorvey.  She also leaves behind a host of great nephews and nieces:  Takis, Tiawan Shanedris, Derrick II, Charles William, Nia, Aliyah, Vance Jr., and one great-great nephew: Shane.

Auntie’s legacy will always be the grace and determination she showed by providing unwavering love, emotional support and time to her nieces and nephews. Family was always her priority. She was a devoted daughter, sister and generous “Auntie.”