Mrs. Lula Belle Crawford Bass passed on Friday, January 22, 2021 at Trinity Oaks Assisted Living Center in Salisbury, North Carolina.  Private Funeral Mass will be conducted at Holy Infant Catholic Church, 1042 Freeway Drive, Reidsville, NC on Monday, February 1, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with burial at Chapel Hill Progressive Primitive Baptist Church.  Public viewing will be held at the McLaurin Memorial Chapel on Sunday, January 31, 2021 from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. (due to inclement weather).

Lula Belle Crawford Bass, beloved wife and mother, was born to the late James Henry and Novella Gwynn Crawford on November 10, 1935 in Reidsville, NC.

Lula was educated in the public school system of Rockingham County and attended Booker T. Washington High School, graduating as valedictorian in the class of 1952.  She then attended Virginia State College in Petersburg, VA where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in May, 1956, graduating as salutatorian.  While attending Virginia State, she became a distinguished member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and met her future husband, Harold Augustus Bass, Sr., whom she affectionately called "Bass".  Lula married Harold on June 29, 1957 and settled first in Washington, DC then moved to Brandywine, MD to raise their family.

She began her career with the federal government working for the National Labor Relations Board in the nation's capital.  In 1979, Lula returned to Reidsville with her husband and family and finished her career with the Internal Revenue Service in Greensboro, North Carolina, retiring after 26 years of service.

Lula and Harold were blessed with a large and close-knit family.  She raised her family with grace, discipline, and love. She instilled in them a passion for education, the desire to aspire beyond their imagination, and her devotion to the Catholic faith.

Lula was a beautiful and giving person. She loved volunteering…teaching adult literacy was a focus for her, traveling with her family, reading and enjoying the simple pleasures of Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and crossword puzzles.  She always had a smile and kind word for everyone she met and always made you feel warm and welcome.

Lula will be dearly missed and those remaining will celebrate the fact she is at peace and reunited with her loved ones who preceded her in death.  Somewhere in heaven is a Bid Whist table…and Lula is happily seated there…" four-low hearts" …always in our hearts.

Lula is survived by her husband, Harold A. Bass, Sr., of the home; son, Harold A. Bass, Jr. (Deborah and children - Brittany and Tyler), of Mint Hill, NC; daughters, Adrienne B. James (Walter and children - DeRyan and Taylor), of Salisbury, NC, Marina M. Bass (children - Adrienne and Noah) of Winchester, VA; Leslie A. Bass (child - Caden) of Middle River, MD, and Janice L. Bass of Stuttgart, Germany; sister, Thelma Bell (Samuel), of Ridgeland, MS and her children and their families; two great-grandchildren, Legend and Dallas James, of Salisbury, NC; and a plethora of other relatives and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Greater Reidsville Habitat for Humanity or the Guide Dog Foundation.

McLaurin Funeral Home is serving the family.  Covid-19 precautions will be followed with social distancing, masks and sanitizing required.  You may connect to the Virtual services via teleconference call by dialing (701) 802-5263 and then access code 6545855# or FaceBook livestreaming via McLaurin Funeral Home's FB page.