The Story of Lulu Childers
Lulu Childers grew up in Howell in the late 1800’s and was the valedictorian of her class at Howell High School (as was her sister). She became the first Dean of Music at Howard University in Washington, DC, and the Fine Art Building there is named after her. She was a nationally know singer who performed for the elite of United States, including President Taft, and was influential in civil rights.
An article from the Livingston Post and two recordings are available describing her life, accomplishments and impact.
In October 2025, an article was published in the Livingston Post that focused on the sale of the home that Lulu grew up in. This article also provides an excellent accounting of Lulu’s life and accomplishments provided by Howell historian, Lindsey Root. Piece of Howell history up for sale; race on to save home of historic resident – The Livingston Post.com
https://www.whmi.com/news/article/howell-lulu-vere-childers-brent-earl
In 2015 WRDL, a radio station in Ashland, Ohio, aired this recognition of Lulu Childers as part of their celebration of Black History Month.
Link to this audio recording:https://wrdlfm.com/2015/02/07/wrdl-celebrates-black-history-month-lulu-vere-childers/ ‘
In 2025, WHMI, the Livingston County radio station, created a 13-minute video on Lulu Childers.
Link to the announcement of that video:
https://www.whmi.com/news/article/howell-lulu-vere-childers-brent-earl
Link to “The Story of Lulu Vere Childers” video:
These two recordings primarily provide information about Lulu Childers’ life and influence as an adult, not her life growing up in Howell. In his book, A Brief History of Race Relations in Livingston County, MI, Leo Hanifin included the following information about Lulu Childers and her family, including the troubling death of her father Alexander in 1879.
Root’s account of other prominent Black residents continues:
“At the same time you had the Childers family who were freed slaves from Kentucky who lived at 420 West St. From the Childers family there were two Howell High valedictorians, Nancy 1893 and Lulu 1890. Another sister Maddie Childers was a prolific chef, catering all the big weddings in Howell, but also doing business in Detroit and Chicago where she gave cooking demonstrations at the famous 1893 World Exposition. Jasper Childers was perhaps the smartest in the family but not first in his class (1887), he did accounting and law clerking for the Livingston City Prosecutor’s office and yet was only 21 when he left Howell to be a successful newspaper publisher in Topeka, Kansas. The aforementioned Lulu Childers is mega noteworthy for her work as alto contralto singer and Dean of Music at Howard University and the impact she had on the HBCU during turbulent decades. (99) The Fine Arts building at Howard is named Lulu Childers Hall and today is a major gathering spot for students on the Howard campus.” (100)
The achievements of the Childers family are all the more remarkable since the father of the family, Alexander Childers died on May 12, 1879, leaving his wife Elisa and their nine children in a “dependent and almost helpless condition.” His death was caused by four pistol shots to the head and was ruled a suicide. (105- “Monday’s Suicide,” The Livingston Republican, May 15, 1879)
There are many very positive mentions of the Childers family in the newspaper during the 1880’s and 1890’s. For example, on Apr. 26, 1888 it was reported that Elisa Childers bought a lot in Howell from J. H. Galloway for $250. By coincidence, Alex Childers had committed suicide in Galloway’s basement nine years earlier.
[Clipped from “Black History Mini Docs”.
Livingston Press, October 11, 1908]
Four years later, as Lulu Childers performed for the President of the United States, Howell basked in the reflected glory of her success. The Republican described the event, the inauguration of a new president of Howard University where “. . . the procession, headed by President Taft, Chief Justice Peelle, . . . was led by the university choir under the direction of Miss Lulu Childers formerly of Howell. The people of Howell and vicinity remember Miss Childers very kindly . . . . It appears . . . that she has a good position in Washington.” (104) Lulu Childers died in 1946 in Howell, Michigan. (118)
Lulu Childers is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Howell, MI.