On January 9, 1944, a beautiful baby girl was born to Mr. Leroy Beard and Ms. Ora Phillips in Short Lake, Arkansas. She came to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1950, and graduated from South High School. She also became a CNA Nurse. After high school, she married Mr. William G.W. Durham, and to their union of twenty-six years, was born Angel, Crystal and Kandy Durham. After William's passing, the Lord blessed Sister Lula to help and touch many lives. She worked in many different areas of the church and used her gift of giving and encouragement to bless the lives of countless people. To know her was to love her, was said by almost everyone she came in contact with. Sister Lula was a wonderful singer and blessed many with her smooth as silky tenor voice. January 9, 2001 she was joined in Holy Matrimony with Dean Alvinies Elder. Sister Lula, as she has been so affectionately called has been well loved by all and helped in many areas of the church gain using the gift of giving and encouragement for strangers and friends.