Lula Pearl Gowens

Lula Pearl Gowens, beloved wife of the late Aubrey Walter Gowens who preceded her in death August 27, 2003; daughter of the late John Crawford and Katie Hopson, was born in Carlisle, South Carolina on December 1. She was the youngest of her parent?s five children Bessie, Thelma, Willie Mae, and Wilson ? all preceded her in death. Her early childhood was spent in Carlisle, South Carolina, where she attended elementary school. Having moved to Washington to live with her oldest sister Bessie Hopson, she continued her education at Shaw Junior High School and Cardozo High School. In the 1930s she met and married Clarence Thompson, Sr.; from this union one son, Clarence Thompson, Jr. was born. He preceded her in death March 1995. She worked as a Chemical Ordinance Specialist at the Washington Navy Yard and a Special Diet Specialist with Food Service at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital where she met her beloved Aubrey. In 1950, they married in Elkton, MD. Lula was a resident of the Shaw Community for over 30 years before accompanying her late husband Aubrey to Europe. During that period, she traveled extensively with Aubrey overseas until he retired from the military March 1967. They were married 53 years. After being inspired by a message from the late Rev. Earl L. Harrison of Shiloh Baptist Church, announcing the position of this new organization, she applied and was selected for the position on the United Planning Organization, Neighborhood Development Center?s staff. Lula began serving the Shaw Community through UPO/NDC#1 in December 1964 as a Neighborhood Worker. She was one of the first social workers along with Mary V. Peters and Gloria H. Anderson to work for UPO/NDC#1 in the 1960s and serving the Shaw Community for over 30 years. She came to NDC#1 with extensive experience in working with the Army?s Family Services Program which she gained while in Europe with her late husband Aubrey who was stationed there. Her work in assisting young and racially mixed military families earned the unofficial title of the army?s Good Will Ambassador in Europe. As a Neighborhood Worker with NDC#1, she organized block clubs for adults and children; kept residents in the neighborhood aware and informed of services available through UPO and local Federal Government agencies; assisted in developing neighborhood groups; helped organized housing workshops; and assisted in the organization of the Consumer Action Group. As a Consumer Aide, she worked with community residents in identifying and solving community problems; assisted residents in establishing credit at local department stores through participation in credit classes; encouraged residents? participation in consumer workshops to develop an awareness of consumer affairs; worked with the code Freshment Projected by surveying food stores and comparing prices and readings to ensure that economical and fresh food was on the shelves for customers; worked with Low Cost Meal Demonstrations, showing low income families how to feed large families economically through budgeting; and conducted supplement food demonstration which showed how to prepare food for children under five years of age and expectant mothers. As a Crisis Intervention Worker, she distributed food and clothing to the community; helped pick up donated clothing; assisted in the organization of the Peoples Involvement Corporation; served as a member of the Senior Citizens Task Force; and participated in the UPO Weekend Feeding Nutrition Program. As a Social Service and Health Education Specialist, she held monthly seminars on health and nutrition related subjects which was a new focus for NDC#1; assisted the Neighborhood Advisory Council with their monthly meetings along with her late husband Aubrey; participated in the Outreach Programs at the John F. Kennedy Playground; and planned/conducted seminars on Shopping Tips and Safety for Christmas in December. Mrs. Gowens supported and assisted Ms. Lillian Greene in her vision to begin Project Harvest, which is now serving thousands of families every Thanksgiving throughout the District of Columbia. Lula received numerous certificates and awards for consumer action, community service, and loyal faithful service from UPO, the District of Columbia Government and Shiloh Baptist Church. Lula?s late husband, Aubrey, faithfully went to work with his beloved wife everyday at UPO/NDC#1. He served as a volunteer with UPO/NDC#1 from 1987 until the retirement of his wife in September 1996. Lula was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church over 56 years, having been assigned to the Friendly Circle. Her late husband, Aubrey sang First Tenor with the Shiloh Senior Choir for over 40 years, and served as Secretary for twenty-five of those years, and served on various church-wide committees. Aubrey was also a faithful member of the Sanctuary Choristers for over 30 years. Lula leaves to cherish fond memories of her five wonderful grandchildren, Michael Thompson, Brenda Dean, Marcus Thompson, Aubrey Thompson, and Virginia Thompson; six great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren, one nephew, Lamont Hopson and numerous of other relatives and many, many friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to UPO Joseph A. Beaver Scholarship Fund, 301 Rhode Island Ave., N.W., Washington, DC or Shiloh Baptist Church, "Victory Plus", 1500 9th St., N.W., Washington, DC. To send a lasting tribute or condolences to the Gowens family, please sign the Online Guestbook below. Click "Sign Guestbook".

Tributes

Lula Pearl Gowens

December 1, 1919 - July 13, 2006