Lula Cottrell Fields

    Lula Cottrell Fields, age 93, of Harlan, Kentucky, passed away Tuesday evening of December 12, 2023 at the Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital.

    The oldest of four children, Lula was born on May 6, 1930, in Greensboro, Alabama, to Edd and Altonia Edwards Cottrell. Her parents moved their family to Harlan County when Lula was very young. She attended school in Harlan County but didn’t finish, which was not uncommon in those days. Instead, she began her lifelong career as a wife, mother, and homemaker. She spent her entire life raising children and caring for her husband, Winslow. She was mother to fifteen children, two of whom died in infancy. Also known as ‘Momma Lu’ to many in the Harlan County community, Lula was old school and raised her children and grandchildren that way. Loving her family well was her most important goal in life.

    When Lula was younger and able, she enjoyed traveling, especially to Detroit, Michigan, to visit with her daughters, Paulette, Dorothy and Thelma. She loved cooking and her macaroni and cheese, as well as her greens, were dishes that she was especially known for. Winslow raised a garden, and Lula could cook up anything that was harvested. She loved flowers, plants, and gardening. She also loved apple chewing tobacco, RC Cola, playing the lottery and scratch off cards. She was onery, said whatever came to her mind, and could be very stern on occasion. Lula was a master poker player and didn’t mind taking your money. Lula was always interested in what everyone else was doing but her family said she was just plain nosy. She had a favorite spot on the couch which happened to be beside the windowso she was able to see all the goings on. Everyone who visited Momma Lu knew better than to sit in her seat by the window. That was HER spot.

    To know her was to love her. 

    Lula was a devoted, long-time member of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Harlan. Before that, she attended Union Baptist Church at Verda. She was baptized long ago and her faith was very important to her.

    In addition to her parents, Edd and Altonia, Lula was preceded in death by her loving husband, Winslow Fields; one sister, Ada Mae and her husband, Jackie “Jack” Robinson; two brothers: Edd Cottrell, Jr. and Luther Jack “L.J.” Sr. and his wife, Missouri Cottrell; daughters: Paulette Cottrell, Dorothy Fields and Thelma Fields; her son, Raymond Fields; three grandchildren: Robert Fields, Marcus Fields and Phoebe Napier. 

    She leaves to cherish her memories, her ten children: Susan, Rosie, Marie, Thomas, Richard, Jimmy, Ronnie, Timothy, Robert and Winslow Fields, Jr; eleven grandchildren: Christine Fields Calhoun, Jacqueline Fields, Michelle Fields Ellison, Thomas Fields Balzano, Jr, Keith Council, Kenneth Bryd, Sheralin Greene, Kelly Brown, Stephanie Fields, Randy Fields, Steven Fields; twenty-one great grandchildren and twelve great-great grandchildren; special adopted sons, Ronnie Walker and Timmy Napier; special friends, Maggie Mills and Mariola Hopkins; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends to mourn her passing.

    Visitation will be Tuesday, December 19, 2023, from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church at Kitts with Homegoing services beginning at 1:00 pm. Reverend Walter Garlington will be officiating.        
 
    Burial will follow in the Evarts Memorial Gardens at Verda, KY, with family and friends serving as Pallbearers.

    In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations/memorials be made directly to Anderson-Laws & Jones Funeral Home to help ease the burden of the funeral expenses. That address is  114 S. 3rd Street, Harlan, KY or you may call 606 573-3757 for further assistance.

   Please feel free to leave a condolence or memory at www.aljfh.com

   Anderson-Laws & Jones Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Lula Cottrell Fields.