Doris Glorya Beaulieu

Early Life

Doris Glorya (Hunter) Beaulieu was born March 25, 1933, to Arthur C. Hunter, Sr. and Edwina Pollard Hunter in New Orleans, Louisiana. As the oldest of three children, Doris was a positive influence on both her siblings throughout their lives. Doris attended Joseph S. Clark high school where she excelled as a star on the track team. Her love for sports led to her meet the love of her life, Leon N. Beaulieu, Jr., who was also a star athlete at the school in track and basketball. They begin dating at 16, with Leon telling Doris he would marry her, they would have four children, he would provide her with a house and a car. They became high school sweethearts. After graduation Doris received a scholarship to Xavier University in New Orleans, where she was on the cheer squad and excelled in vocal performance.

In 1952, an evangelistic tent went up across the street from Doris’ house led by Elder Jeter Cox. There were several Oakwood ministerial students who were helping with the effort, among them Jesse Wagner and Milton Young. When they saw the Hunter sisters going into the home across the street, they decided to invite them to attend the meetings. Doris’ mother, Edwina Hunter, was a devout Baptist with her brother, the Reverend Pollard, a known Baptist minister in the community. Ms. Edwina (Ms. Susie as she was affectionately called), allowed them to go when she understood they were inviting Doris and her sister Yvonne to a religious service. Doris was even asked to sing at the meeting. However, Doris’ mother became uncomfortable when one evening they lowered the tent sides that faced the family home, and she could not see what was happening in the tent. Doris recalled her mother walking over to the tent and loudly called for both girls to come home immediately. Doris was embarrassed by her mother’s protectiveness, but they were able to continue attending. The result of that effort brought Doris and her family into the Seventh-Day Adventist church and in 1953, Doris enrolled at Oakwood University as an education major.

Doris and Leon remained friends even after he joined the military and enlisted in the Airforce and Doris went away to college. When Leon heard Doris had joined the SDA religion, he set out to prove it was a cult. His dedicated research and study led to his being convicted spiritually and he was also baptized into the SDA church. On December 26, 1954, Doris and Leon wed at the Ephesus SDA Church in New Orleans. After her marriage Doris began travelling with her husband. They were blessed with two children early in their marriage, Leon III and Michelle. Doris continued to travel in Europe with her family. Upon her return to the States, Doris had two more children, Sibyl and Eric.

Family Life and Further Education

Doris loved being a mother and having her “babies” around her. She often played with them, creating an atmosphere of laughter and fun for her children. Upon her husband’s exit from the military, they both decided that moving to the West coast would provide the best opportunities for their children and the family relocated to California. The family initially moved to Compton, California and attended the Miramonte, SDA Church. Doris was an active participant in the Miramonte Chorale, a well known African American SDA choir in the Los Angeles area. The family eventually moved to Pomona, California, where they attended the Pomona SDA Church. Again, Doris used her natural singing talents with the church choir. It was during membership at this church that she released her first and only album. Accompanied by Clara Baerg, she released an album of sacred hymns, singing old standards such as “Overshadowed,” “Forevermore” and one of her favorites to sing, “How Rich I am.” Doris’ love of music led her to work with the young people of the church. She helped establish a youth service, where the young people could sing songs relevant to their generation and formulated a ministry touring group of young people, who played and sang around churches throughout Southern California. Doris forming this group of young people from all ethnicities and social classes was beyond her time and it helped lead many young people to a closer and fuller commitment to God. She also was the physical education teacher at the local SDA elementary and middle school, Pomona Jr. Academy.

During this time, with the encouragement of her husband, Doris returned to school and completed her Licensed Vocational Nursing license from Mt. San Antonia College in Pomona, CA.

When Doris became a grandmother, she found great joy in doting on her grandchildren. She loved having them stay with her, cooking them comfort food, taking them to church, buying them clothes and toys and spending time with them. She had special things she would do with them individually, whether it was taking them with her when she would go out, buying them special treats, sitting and talking with them about various things, calling them by a special nickname or going “bumming” with them. Whatever it was, she found a way to let each grandchild know they were unique and special to her.

Trouble in Life

Doris, heeding her husband’s encouragement to obtain her nursing degree so that she could provide for the family if something happened to him, proved providential. In the Summer of 1970 Doris’ husband Leon was severely injured in a construction site accident. The result was that he survived death with a severe and permanent spinal cord injury and became a paraplegic – using a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Doris was called upon to provide for her family and support her husband through an arduous rehabilitation that had him out of the home for more than two years. Though a tragic circumstance for both she and her husband, both who were still young at 38 years, Doris clung strongly to her faith. She and her husband focused diligently on living a life that was not overshadowed by his disability. Through tough times that seem hopeless and grueling, Doris was able to hold fast to her belief in God and that he worked things out for her good.

Faith Life

Doris remained involved in ministry wherever she found herself. She and her husband helped to support the first Indonesian church in Southern California, supporting pastor Paul Sitompul and his wife Gladys with involvement and financial support and having the family attend as members for several years. Doris and her family were founding members of the Bethel SDA Church in Pomona, CA, the first SDA African American Church in Pomona, CA, where Doris led out in music ministry both in the choir and small group singing. A lifelong health advocate, Doris started an exercise group for women and led out in weekly exercise activities with women of all ages at the church. She became an ordained elder at Bethel SDA church and started the annual “All Night” prayer meetings that the church members supported. She was also the women’s ministry leader at the church. Doris loved people and demonstrated this through her informal counseling of young people, young married couples, and her peer group.

Alabama Life

Doris and her husband travelled to Huntsville, AL to attend their youngest daughter’s graduation from Oakwood College (University) in 1991. During this visit, they reconnected with their southern roots, enjoying many positive memories of their southern upbring. With their daughter’s encouragement, they began reconsidering relocating back to the South, which was something Doris’ husband had said he would never do. Eventually, the entire family relocated to the Huntsville area and Doris found her retirement home in Harvest, AL. with the aid of her oldest son, Leon. She and her husband quickly became members of the Madison Mission SDA church. Doris was the originator and founder of the senior ministry XYZ (Extra Years of Zeal) which continues to operate to this day. She loved worshipping, singing, and engaging with her fellow members as an elder at Madison Mission.

On December 1st, 2009, Doris experienced the tragedy of the untimely and unexpected death of her oldest daughter, Michelle Beaulieu Smith. This death was a significant blow to the family and Doris continued to have difficulty recovering from this loss throughout the remainder of her years. Tragically, only a year and a half later May 27, 2011, Doris lost the love of her life, lifelong partner and friend, her beloved husband Leon. Between December 2009 and Summer if 2014, Doris lost four significant family members, (Michelle Beaulieu Smith – Daughter, Leon N, Beaulieu, Jr. – Husband, Columbus Batiste, Sr. – Brother-in-law, and Patricia Beaulieu Rodney – Sister-in-law). Each had a significant impact on Doris as she navigated her golden years.

End of Life

Doris held on to her spiritual beliefs throughout her life, but her study and personal worship blossomed during her final years. She spent many hours praying, reading her bible, listening to spiritual music, or watching religious programs. She transferred her membership to the 1st SDA Church and attended with her daughter, Sibyl, until attending became a hardship for her. When she was able, she walked around the neighborhood passing out small tracks or lessons, because she wanted her neighbors to know Jesus was returning soon. Prior to her gradual confinement, if she went to the store, out to eat, shopping, or to the library – you would often find her handing out books or tracs about Jesus, his soon coming, the end of time and how to get and be ready. She also would pray for any vendor who came to the house, asking them if they knew Jesus and offering them a video, book or pamphlet and asking them to read or view it. Whether it was the UPS delivery man, the plumber, the lawn servicer, or a handy man helping with a project, Doris used each opportunity to find out if they knew Jesus and offer them something to read that would help them know him. The family had a standing joke of asking Doris to refrain from “witnessing” to us daily. This never stopped her, as she was a person who did what she felt needed to be done. Doris loved company and many people/church members and pastors came to visit her, where she would light up and engage with them with vigor and enthusiasm.

Doris began declining several months ago, remaining in bed, and refraining from most activities. On May 17th she was admitted to Madison Hospital where she was diagnosed with pneumonia and an infection. During her stay in the hospital, her major theme and focus was to return home as she did not want to be in the hospital. Even though the family was hopeful for recovery, Doris let her family know she was tired and ready to rest. She was brought home on May 30th, which is what she desired the most - to be home among her family as she moved towards her final rest.

Doris closed her eyes to life on June 8th, 2025, at 1:20 a.m., released from her pain and struggles until the trumpet sounds to awaken her. Doris was preceded in death by her beloved daughter Michelle Beaulieu Smith (Bruce) and her husband, Leon N. Beaulieu, Jr. She is survived by her children, Leon N. Beaulieu, III (Felicia), Dr. Sibyl R. Beaulieu, Eric A. Beaulieu, her grandchildren Lamont Roby (Tami), Nichole L. Beaulieu, Leon N. Beaulieu, IV, Joshua C. Smith, Alina X. Glass (Greg), Ariana Xicotencatl; her great grandchildren Shariyah M. Beaulieu, Marih M. Hughes (Jovon), Maylea Z. Roby; Harleigh Glass, Micah Glass; and great-great grandchild Jovon King Jr. She also has a beloved host of nieces and nephews in Los Angeles, Houston, and New Orleans as well as cousins, adopted children and friends.

A funeral service for Doris will be held Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Valhalla Funeral Home, 698 Winchester Rd NE Huntsville, AL 35811.

The repast will be held at Madison Mission SDA Church, 183 Shelton Road -- Madison, AL 35758, immediately following the graveside service.