The Celebration of Life for Minister Carol F. Luper, 73, of Orange, will be Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 2pm at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Beaumont, TX under the direction of Sparrow Funeral Home.
Rites of Christian Burial will follow in Magnolia Memorial Gardens in Orange, TX.
Visitation will be from 1 until 2 pm.
Carol Frances “Auntie” Luper transitioned on October 22, 2023 at Focus Care Nursing Facility in Orange, Texas after an extended illness. She was born on December 2, 1949 to her parents Frank Jeffry Luper and Mary Rose Dunlop Luper. She was the youngest of three children. She was known as Charlie and Rosetta’s little sister, but she wanted to be the boss. At the age of 3, Carol began her formal education in Dunlop Pre-Primary and Kindergarten School, which was established by her maternal Grandmother, Izetta E. Dunlop, a 1903 graduate of the former Kentucky Normal and Industrial College for Coloreds in Frankfort, Kentucky.
At an early age, Carol began her spiritual journey under Rev. William Jetson Clark at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Orange, Texas where she accepted the Lord. Carol grew up singing in the choir, attending Sunday School, and participating in several activities at church like Jr. Mission, BTU, and much more. Carol attended and graduated in 1968 from Lutcher Stark High School in Orange, Texas. Later, she enrolled in Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. Carol was the fourth generation of college educated women in her family, all who were teachers. She started her professional career in social work because she didn’t think she was cut out to be a teacher. Carol worked in the mental health field at MHMR of Southeast Texas and Spindletop which was formerly called Beaumont State Center. After a few years, she realized that was not the job for her and re-enrolled in Lamar University and earned her teaching certificate.
Carol started her educational career as an educator in the West Orange Cove School District and later moved to Beaumont Independent School District. In BISD, she started subbing at Austin Middle School and later acquired a permanent teaching position at South Park Middle School and then finally teaching Social Studies and Psychology at Central Medical Magnet High School. During that tenure she was a member of several teaching associations, which include but are not limited to NEA, BTA, TSTA, and BABSE. Carol retired from BISD in January of 2010.
Carol followed her mothers path as a legacy and member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated and a member of the Eastern Stars.
One of Carol’s goals was to reach, teach, and change lives by enhancing people’s knowledge to the glory of God. She believes education should be eclectic and that the three power vocations are parenting, teaching, and preaching the gospel. Two of which she experienced. Parenting because the fundamental principles of life are laid at home-respect, responsibility, accountability, discipline, values, and morals. (Although she was not biologically a parent, she parented many.) Teaching because the educational system builds on the model set by parenting through transference and extension, she believes that it “Takes a Village”. Finally, preaching the gospel reinforces social dynamics, and gives individuals good hope through grace and helps students reach for a higher plane of existence.
Although she had been in ministry for years, in 1998 Carol was officially licensed to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1999 she was ordained and in 2001 she became the pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Orange, Texas. In 2005, when the church was destroyed by Hurricane Rita, Pastor Luper began having church services in her home and she continued to do so until her health failed and she was unable to continue.
Carol was known to many as Carol Frances, Ms. Luper, Sister Carol, Pastor Luper, and to all she held close to her heart as “Auntie”. Meanwhile, she was inspired, she believes, by the Holy Spirit to write and publish two books. The first in 2012, a puzzle book entitled, “Issues and Answers” to address pragmatic issues of life with spiritual insights gained through the application of scripture in an unique way. Coming from an educational background, she addressed social, psychological, and academic issues with her puzzlebook. It was her desire to translate this body of work into Spanish, French, Italian, and German in an effort to reach and teach all nations for Christ. The second in 2021, a book entitled, “Essays: A Legacy for Mankind” which consists of mini lessons that offer words of wisdom and encouragement for everyday life in a plethora of situations. Her goal was that all who read these books will be inspired! Both books can be found on Amazon.
Carol was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents; mother, Mary Rose Dunlop Luper; father, Frank Jeffry “Super Chief” Luper; sisters, Charlie Delores Brooks Rogers (Robert) and Rosetta Illma Brooks Patterson (John, also deceased). Followed in death by her great nephew, Malcolm Wells III. She leaves to cherish her memory, her niece, Andrea Dianne Patterson Roberts (Johnny); great-nephew, Kristian Franklin Roberts; brother in love, Robert Harold Rogers; extended nieces, Barbara Wells and Loumarion Gilbert; extended great nephews and nieces, Michael McClain, Brandon Gilbert, Kiyana Wells, and Brittney Broussard. Also, her childhood best friends, Evelyn McClain, Carol Harris, Patsy Kemp, classmate Essie Stevenson Tatum, Jean McMillian Gibbs, Sara Lee Robinson-Sellers and additional family members, sorority sisters, classmates, students, co-workers, and friends.
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