Lula Mae Bellamy Pouncy, 75, devoted to educating children.
As a seamstress, she also made clothing for youngsters.
FOR MISS LUBEL, children were her life.
Lula Mae Bellamy Pouncy, called "Lubel" by family and friends and "Miss Lubel" by neighbors, took care of children by providing the clothes they wore and the lessons they learned.
She was a seamstress who made children's clothing in a factory and in her West Oak Lane home, and she was the founder of a learning center for preschool and kindergarten children that earned her praise and honors.
Lula Mae, who also was an active Baptist churchwoman and devoted family matriarch, died Feb. 22 of complications of Alzheimer's disease at age 75.
"She was adored by hundreds of parents and children over her 30-year career as an educator, adviser, sitter, and often a secondary mom," her family said.
As a founder of Lubel's House of Learning and Christian Academy at Walnut Lane and Limekiln Pike, now at Mount Pleasant Avenue near Anderson Street, Lula Mae "graduated over three generations of children, provided employment for women for decades, and produced students who placed well in life," said her daughter Michelle Bellamy.
"Today, her students are lawyers, doctors, engineers, community volunteers and business owners themselves."
Lula Mae was born in Waycross, Ga., the third of the seven children of Eddie and Charlie Mae Jackson. Her family said Lula Mae's parents gave her "a solid work ethic and a fighting spirit."
She began her spiritual journey at the Greater St. Paul Baptist Church in Waycross. She got her early education in Georgia, then, when the family moved to Philadelphia, graduated from Simon Gratz High School, where she played softball and basketball.
She worked for a time as a beautician, then went to work for a clothing factory as a seamstress, making children's clothes. When the factory closed in 1975, she continued to make clothes for children at her home.
Lula Mae was in her 40s when she decided she needed more education to continue her career as an educator. So, she enrolled at Temple University and earned an associate degree in childhood education.
"It was one of her proudest moments," her family said.
Lula Mae was a member of Morris Chapel Baptist Church in North Philadelphia for more than 30 years. She served on the Black and White Committee and the No. 2 Choir, and enjoyed working with seniors. She later became a member of Second Baptist Church in Germantown.
Lula was married to Samuel Bellamy for 35 years before their marriage dissolved. She later married Robert L. Pouncy.
"They laughed, loved, traveled and developed a fondness for Corvettes, since Lula loved to drive fast," her family said.
"Lula Bellamy Pouncy represents that rare breed of woman who modeled for other women respect for self, hard work and independence, entrepreneurship, and caring for your family," her family said.
"She did this and all things with both style and beauty that would command a room, and anyone who was in her presence was guaranteed to leave with a gift of love, laughter and a smile."
Her husband died in 2011. Besides her daughter, she is survived by two other daughters, Deborah Bellamy and Glendora Bellamy; four sisters, Dorothy Causer, Katerina Williams, Ellen Jackson and Shirley Whitaker; a brother, Willie D. Batchelor; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services: Were Saturday.