Lula Lacey

Lula Zana Bryant Lacey passed away in Laredo at the age of 98 on May 14, 2012.-She lived 96 of those years in Laredo.-Her life was dedicated to her family and the world of dance.

She attended Urbahn Elementary School on Victoria Street.-By fifth grade her talent for dance had been recognized and she was chosen to represent her school at the then Royal Theater in downtown Laredo.-Her debut performance was a Scottish number,"The Highland Fling".

Lula attended Laredo High School (LHS) at the location which is now La Posada Hotel and it was through LHS that she would later accept an invitation to perform at the grand opening of the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas.

Still later she appeared in her school year book as "Cutest Girl" -- and so she was, with her beautiful red hair and hazel green eyes.

Upon graduation from LHS she spent a year studying ballet with Ruth Matlock, a former soloist with the Metropolitan Opera of New York City.-Though she yenned to attain a degree in dance, none was offered in those years, but to the many generations of young Laredoans-she would go on to teach over the next 43 years, she was a master of ballet technique, degreed or not. George Ballanchine once said of one of her students, "Her technique is flawless."-Another student, Mary Cage Moore, went on as Miss Texas to win Most Talented Contestant in a Miss America Pageant.

Lula's greatest enjoyment was watching the benefits of ballet evolve in her students, its strict demands on body control, grace, self-assurance and self-discipline.-She loved each student as a daughter and as a son and she felt truly privileged to teach them.

A member of the Texas Association of Dancers, she strove to improve herself constantly, attending summer sessions at conventions in Dallas. Her favorite instructor there was the renowned Russian Ballet dancer, Alexandra Danilova.

She was also a member of the Society of Martha Washington, participating in some way every year for 42 years in that organization's pageant. She failed to participate only two years -- when she herself was elected to portray Martha Washington and the year daughter Julia Selby Lacey was presented.-At 95 she was honored by the Society with a Lifetime Legacy Award, the first and only member in the Society's history to receive it.-She was also very proud of an honorary membership bestowed upon her by the Pan American Round Table, a society founded by her cousin, Florence Griswold, in 1916.

Her great mind and lovely heart didn't stop at dancing.-A math whizz, she created a board game called "Whizz," and also introduced the first known bilingual crossword puzzle to the Texas educational system, both endeavors lovingly conceived and executed for the benefit of teaching and helping children.-

In her late 60s she took on a second career as a real estate broker and was proud to be the first woman in the State of Texas to pass the licensing exam on the first attempt.

Lula was about a lot of things, but none more than being fair. Her heart was solid gold.-She never said a demeaning thing about anyone.-She always championed the underdog.

As though her contributions to society weren't enough, she was mother, father, gardener, dishwasher, cook, maid, bread winner and counselor-in-chief to her 4 adoring children, Bateman B. Lacey Jr. (Marisa) and children Marisa Michele Lacey and Devin Brian Lacey; James H. Lacey and twin Julia Selby Lacey; Herbert Douglas Lacey (Diana) and son James Derek Lacey, son Arturo Lacey and daughter Arabela J. ("Belini") Lacey (Wes Rice) and their daughter, Lola Naomi Rice.

Julia Lombard Bryant, asked on one occasion why she had named her daughter so curiously (Lula Zana) responded, "because on the day she was born I heard the angels sing, 'Hallelujah Hosanna!"-We never doubted it.

Rest in peace wonderful mother, exceptional citizen, angel of Earth. We will miss you terribly, as will your loving caretakers, Mari, Jovita and Soledad.

Friends are invited to a celebration of Lula's life Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the home of Doug and Diana Lacey, 116 Crenshaw Dr (Plantation), between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

It was Lula's final request that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Bethany House.