Eula Lee Irick

Eula Lee Irick was born on July 6, 1950 in Bowman, South Carolina. She was the 9th of 11 children born to the late Eula Ruth Jones and Lawrence Jacob Irick. After a long battle with cancer, Eula Lee—affectionately known as “Lee”—entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, January 16, 2018.

Lee attended public school in Bowman and attended Old Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where she accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age. After relocating to Washington, D.C. in 1963, she joined Greater New Hope Baptist Church along with her family. She continued her education and graduated from Western High School in 1968. During her senior year of high school, she started working part-time for the Department of Navy as a file clerk. Upon graduation, she became a full-time employee and furthered her education at various institutions, including Washington Technical Institute, which later became the University of the District of Columbia. Upon leaving the Department of Navy, Lee continued her professional career with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. After working a total of 39 years, Lee retired from the federal government in 2004 as a Contracting Officer.

Not only did Lee work hard, she also played hard—she always enjoyed life to the fullest. Lee loved dancing and listening to music; especially Bobby Marchan’s, “There's Something on Your Mind,” Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine,” and Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable”. She loved playing many arcade games, including Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, as well as a handful of others. Anyone who knew Lee, knows that her greatest passion was traveling with her family and friends. Whether it be cruising to various islands, or merely “trying her hand” at the casinos in Atlantic City, Dover, or Charles Town, Lee would pack up and go in a heartbeat. Upon returning from these trips, Lee would proudly display the “free” gifts that she received for going. Lee was also an avid sports fan; she enjoyed golfing (having taken lessons) and belonged to a bowling league where she maintained a very high average.

Lee could relate to almost anyone, and often used this gift to mediate and assist in family matters. During her lifetime, Lee could be described as a “people magnet”. On many, many occasions and no matter in which country, people of diverse origins were attracted to her captivating personality; people would approach her and just start talking. While others may have found this to be a bit of a curse, Lee appreciated chance encounters and relished the opportunity to make someone laugh. To know Lee, was to love Lee.

You could always count on Lee to speak her mind, and you undoubtedly knew where you stood with her. In other words, if you asked her, “she told you”. Even though Lee could be brutally honest, she was also completely unbiased and very generous. If Lee saw the need, she would give you the coat off her back, or the shoes off her feet. Lee was not only very giving, she was loving, caring and compassionate; even to the point of becoming caregiver for her elderly parents up until their deaths—Dad in 2013 and Mom in 2014. Both lived to be the ripe old age of 99.

When the family moved from S.C. to D.C., under the direction of her late Aunt Rozene Jones, Aunt Willie Mae Cobb and her brother Eunice Irick, Lee took the lead in coordinating other branches of the Jones family and forming the very first Jones Family Reunion (JFR). This allowed other Jones Family members to meet and get to know various aunts, uncles and cousins from D.C., New Jersey and New York. The first Jones Family Reunion was held during Labor Day weekend in 1966, in Rock Creek Park (D.C.).

Thanks to Lee’s foresight and hard work, 52 years later the JFR is still going strong and has expanded to include the States of South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Lee was preceded in death by her parents Lawrence and Eula R. Irick, her brother Harvin, and sister Shirley. She leaves to cherish her memories— brothers: Eunice of Maryland, Marion of Georgia and George (Donna) of Maryland; sisters: Ernestine, Barbara, Patricia (all of New Jersey), Verna (Nathaniel) of Georgia, Priscilla of Maryland, loving Aunt Evelyn of South Carolina, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and devoted friends.

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Special thanks to her sister Priscilla and her “very special” niece Ashlea, who willingly served as her primary caregivers. As her illness progressed, Lee lived with them for one year. They made sure that she kept all her doctor appointments, ate properly and continued to enjoy life as best she could. Priscilla and Ashlea were also aided in their effort by her “little big brother” George and her devoted sister-in-law Donna.

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Acknowledgements

The family of Eula L. Irick takes this opportunity to express sincere thanks and appreciation to the many friends and family members who prayed for us, called, sent flowers, cards, brought food, and expressed love and concern through your many acts of kindness.

We love you, we thank you, and may God continue to bless all of you!!

I Made It Home!

I just wanted to let you know that I made it home.

The journey wasn’t an easy one, but it didn’t take too long.

Everything is so pretty here, so white, so fresh and new

I wish that you could close your eyes and that you could see it too.

Please try not to be sad for me.

Try to understand God is taking care of me… I’m in the shelter of His hands.

Here there is no sadness, no sorrow, and no pain.

Here there is no crying and I’ll never hurt again.

Here it is so peaceful when all the angels sing.

I really have to go for now… I’ve just got to try my wings.

“Bye y’all”

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Irick family may be shared at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/fort-lincoln-funeral-home .