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MSBC Media PlayerMedia Center
MSBCOC | In Remembrance
Theola L. Lunn
December 21, 1910 - May 31, 2001
Theola Louraine Sparks, the only child
of Albert and Helen James Sparks, was born in Hartsville, South Carolina on
December 21, 1910. Theola was blessed with two loving Christian parents who
surrounded her with love and religious nurturing. She was active in the church
all of her life and as a youth became a member of the Seminary Methodist Church
in South Carolina. After graduating from Butler High School, in 1927, Theola
entered South Carolina's Orangeburg State University. Armed with a teaching
certificate from Orangeburg, she began a teaching career at the Kellybell Public
School.
On November 12, 1931, Theola married Theodore Roosevelt Lunn. Five sons and five daughters were born of this union. In 1937 the family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. Because she wanted to stay at home with her young children, Mrs. Lunn established a community store in the basement of her home to help support the family. She was a very protective parent and always kept a watchful eye on her children. She was active in Parent-Teacher Associations and participated in all of her children's school activities. Mrs. Lunn instilled in her children a sense of pride in their race and the family name and a belief that they could do "great things". She taught them the "Ten Commandments", the "23rd Psalm", and the importance of loving one another and putting God first in their lives when they were young. Because of their upbringing, several of her offspring entered the ministry and all became active church members.
When the youngest child entered school, Mrs. Lunn returned to employment outside of the home; first with the Beauty Queen Company, then with the Baltimore City School System. While she taught, Mrs. Lunn continued her own education in evening classes at Morgan State College. She retired from the school system in 1968; however, after being retired for a while, Mrs. Lunn went to work as a Food Service Manager and Supervisor at the Lafayette Square Multipurpose Center. She retired from that position in 1978. Ever the entrepreneur, Mrs. Lunn also established a cosmetic company called Queen-A-Rama, in 1959.
For many years, Mrs. Lunn attended Allen AME Church but sent her children to Morning Star Baptist Church so that she could watch them cross the street. In 1953, she joined Morning Star, under the pastorate of Reverend Nathaniel Wicks. At Morning Star, Mrs. Lunn taught Sunday School and maintained membership in the Pastor's Aid, Missionary Society, Wicks Progressive Group, Board of Christian Education, Family Life, Senior Choir and Volunteer Choir. She continued to worship and involve herself in the affairs of Morning Star Baptist Church and her children's churches until her death.
Although short in stature, this giant of a woman put God first in her life and taught her children to do the same. Her life truly exemplifies that of a virtuous woman and we pause to remember her this month.
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