Lilla June Cushon's Obituary
Born in Pensacola, Florida to Lilla Byrd and Louis Porter Kelker, Lilla June was the youngest of six siblings. She was raised in Pensacola and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. She graduated from Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, Florida where she majored in elementary education. Her first teaching job was in Pompano Beach, Florida. During summer breaks, she attended Columbia University in New York to study graduate level education. Lilla June later returned to Pensacola and married her beloved husband, of 47 years, Albert F. Cushon (deceased). They traveled to many places and experienced new and foreign lands together by way of the U.S. military. After settling in Tacoma, Washington in 1966, Lilla June pursued her career as an elementary school teacher working at various elementary schools in the city for over 30 years where she later retired. Lilla June had a caring and nurturing spirit, and a passion for teaching young students. As a child, before television, Lilla June loved to entertain her playmates with imaginary story-telling. She applied her childhood trait to constantly inspire and encourage her students to use their imaginations to express their creativity through story-telling and writing. Her students helped inspire her to write and publish her book. And so she did a childrens book: "A Penguin Pal Dream." She dedicated her book to her former second grade students of Fawcett Elementary, classes of 1991 - 1993. Lilla June encouraged her family and friends to "Dream Big" and to "Be Your Own Person" and "You can do anything you want to do". She illustrated these attributes personally, professionally, and inherently. Lilla June was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority where she continued to foster her caring and nurturing spirit through her service to the community, the elderly, and the sick. She will be greatly missed.She is survived by her loving: sister Louise Kelker; brother Harold Kelker (Evelyn); daughters Juwana Delaney (Allen), and LaTonya Cushon-Dillard (John); son Albert Kelker Cushon (Debra); grand children Will Cleveland, Christa and Zachary Cushon; and a host of in-laws, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.Lilla (June) Cushon's dream was to fund fresh water wells in Africa through the publication of her book. To help fulfill her dream, in lieu of flowers please donate to the African Well Fund at www.africanwellfund.org. If you would like to purchase her book, 'A Penguin Pal Dream' it is available at trafford.com and all proceeds will go to the African Well Fund.
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