Paula was born in Lubbock on January 23, 1954, and graduated from Coronado High School. On September 1, 2002, she married Rick Black, with whom she shared a beautiful life centered around faith, family, and love.
Paula was a ray of sunshine wherever she went. She had a special way of making people feel seen, cared for, and loved, and her warmth and kindness touched everyone who knew her.
She deeply loved her work at Trinity Christian School and treasured the relationships she formed there. For many years, Paula also served as a chaplain at Dr. St. Clair’s office, offering compassion and encouragement to those around her. She later worked at City Bank as an Customer Experience Coordinator, where she greeted customers with her warm smile and made everyone who walked through the doors feel welcome.
Above all, Paula loved her family. She is survived by her loving husband, Rick Black; their children, Jessie Coppedge and husband Lawrence, Dusty Black and wife Kelsey, Angela Bush, and Amanda Phillips and husband Matthew; and her beloved grandchildren, Samantha, Paul, Piper, Riley, Shawn, Ian, Lily, and Dovey, who brought immeasurable joy to her life.
Paula will be remembered for her faith in God, radiant smile, generous heart, joyful spirit, and the way she loved others so wholeheartedly. The love she gave so freely will live on through her family and the many lives she touched.
A funeral service celebrating Paula’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 5, 2026, at Trinity Church in Lubbock, with a gathering to follow at Trinity Central.
In lieu of flowers, Paula desired that donations be made in her memory to Rescued Animals Second Chance Inc. (RASC), an organization founded by her dear friend and beloved doctor, Dr. Beth Nickels, that gives rescued horses a second chance at life.
Donations may be made at:
www.rasclubbock.org
