A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date for 96 year old Lula (Lou) Martin Van Velkinburgh, of Jackson, MS,
Survivors include: her children, Edie Lea of Canton, MS; Ramona Hamilton of Cadiz, KY; Danny Van Velkinburgh of Ellisville, MS; and Michael Van Velkinburgh (Brenda) of Ridgeland, MS;
brother Norman E. (Shorty) Martin(Lenora) of Stonefort, IL,
ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Lula (Lou) Martin Van Velkinburgh, 96, of Jackson, MS, passed from this world to her reward with her savior Jesus Christ on July 25, 2024. She was born in the small town of Stonefort, IL, on April 23, 1928, to Norman Lee (Jack) and Helen Barnwell Martin.
In 1979, the Easter Flood changed her life in a very unexpected way. Seeing an ad for a Wilton Cake Decorating course she found an escape from the temporary residence in a hotel room with two teenage sons for a couple hours a week. Over the next 20 years ‘Miss Lou’ would become the teacher of over 1,000cake decorating students.
Lou was dubbed the Petit Four Lady in a Northside Sun profile story. She baked cakes and petit fours for several administrations in the governor’s mansion and city hall. She was asked to provide for celebrations throughout several states at weddings, baby showers, and birthdays, even Patrick Stewart’s 50th birthday cake for an event at the planetarium.
She is survived by her brother Norman E. (Shorty) Martin(Lenora) of Stonefort, IL, her children, Edie Lea of Canton, MS; Ramona Hamilton of Cadiz, KY; Danny Van Velkinburgh of Ellisville, MS; and Michael Van Velkinburgh (Brenda) of Ridgeland, MS; ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
She is predeceased by her spouses William Willis (2010) and Clarence “Van” Van Velkinburgh (1993), her parents and brother Joseph Martin.
The family is grateful to Thomas C (Tom) Womack, her grandson, for devoting the last two years to being her caretaker. We also would like to thank Baptist Hospice and Hearts of Hospice for their loving care over the last several weeks.
Details for a celebration of life are yet to be completed.
