Lula M. Burrell’s 50-year career in this area dates back to Henderson County Schools in the early Sixties, when the central office had the superintendent and only three staff workers including herself. Her responsibilities included preparing payroll for food service personnel.

Burrell worked 20 years for Tryon City Schools starting in 1941 before the U.S. entered World War II, then 30 years in Henderson until 1992. She was a treasured aide for Supts. J.M. Foster, Glenn C. Marlow then Dr. Dan Lunsford. They described her as very dedicated and reliable, a pillar of the central office.

In the early Sixties, the central office’s three staffers were Grace Ledbetter, the system’s first-ever financial director, Burrell and Gladys Burns. Ledbetter wrote checks, based on Burrell and Burns’ payroll records. Burrell prepared payroll for food service personnel. Thus, in a sense, she set the table for those workers to function as “bread winners.”

On payroll days, typing up forms often kept her and Burns to 6 p.m. “If we were still working on something, we finished it up” then rather than the next day, Burrell recalled. Earlier, for Tryon schools, she often stayed to 9 p.m. as the only one handling school payroll. “I did everything there,” she said. She even acted as school property clerk.

In the Henderson County office, Ledbetter went by the book such as in expecting cancelled checks to document purchases. She is impressed with how Burrell obliged. “Lula was very, very dedicated,” Ledbetter said. “She quietly stayed behind her desk, and took care of her duties.” Burrell never missed a day of work from sickness.

“There are not superlatives to describe Lula Burrell,” then-Supt. Marlow wrote when nominating her for a state award in 1989. Marlow described Burrell as an “expert” in various areas, and dependable and “outstanding” worker. “She meticulously checks and double-checks, to assure accuracy.”

Ruth Sass supervised cafeterias, and menus. But Burrell submitted nutrition reports for school food service, on number of children served.

A bonus is her pleasant nature. “Lula is a wonderful person to be around,” Ledbetter said. Marlow added that for 26 years at the central office “if I needed someone to brighten my day, I always turned to Lula. She always has a good word, for everyone in the office.”

Her standard of excellence is reflected by her own studies. In 1938, she graduated from high school in Tryon with certificates of merit for scholastic average, perfect attendance and Bible studies.

Lula Burrell extended her contributions across the state, with “unusual devotion,” Marlow noted. “She often serves as a consultant to the experts around the state, whose responsibilities are similar to hers.”

The award Marlow nominated her for was Educational Office Professional (EOP) of the Year, which emphasized career achievement. She won that award in 1990. Since 2002, it’s been named for her. She’s among 28 charter members of the N.C. Assoc. of Educational Office Professionals, which boosts office staff training. She recalls the very day it began — April 28, 1951. She was NCAEOP state president in 1957-58, and district I head in 1952 for 15 westernmost counties. An EOP scholarship fund is in her name, since 1994. She’s attended all 59 of its state conferences, plus nine EOP national conferences.

Elaine Hull, longtime secretary of Edneyville and North Henderson high schools, has also led the state EOP. As Hull notes, Lula Burrell is “known and respected throughout the state, for her work in (EOP) and her dedication to our schools.”