Creola Inez Gaston Lucas

Creola Inez Gaston Lucas was born on January 11, 1940, in Birmingham, Alabama, to Arthur George Gaston, Jr. and Sallie Dean Robinson Gaston. She arrived at her heavenly home on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, following a brief illness, leaving her family heartbroken. Creola was the third of five children. As a child, Creola, affectionately known as “Cree, ” enjoyed roller skating and was somewhat of a tomboy. She loved climbing trees and spending time with her best friend, exploring the Smithfield neighborhood. She attended Pilgrim Lutheran School and graduated from A. H. Parker High School. After graduation, she attended Talladega College and later received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and Iota Phi Lambda Business Sorority.

While attending Talladega College, she met the love of her life, Ira Thomas Lucas, Jr. They were married for 61 years, and from this union, they raised two children, Ira T. Lucas, III and Ingrid Deane Lucas. During their marriage, Creola and her husband lived in Cleveland, Ohio; Lubbock, Texas; Baytown, Texas; and Houston, Texas. Creola loved living in Houston, where she was a devoted wife and mother who was creative in making her house a home. She briefly studied home interior decorating and transformed her home into a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing environment. She loved gardening, and her yard was always filled with gorgeous flowers and shrubs. She also possessed great culinary skills and was renowned for her “Gumbo, ” which many people declared was the best in the South—and it was indeed delicious. In addition, her strawberry cakes, cakes with caramel icing, and homemade banana pudding were some of the best around.

While married to Ira, they traveled to Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Cayman Islands, Montego Bay, and the famed Playboy Mansion in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. After returning to Birmingham with her husband in 1985, she pursued her real estate license and became the qualifying broker for Vulcan Real Estate Company, owned by her grandfather, Dr. A. G. Gaston, Sr. She continued her career with several other real estate companies before retiring. Creola was a dynamic writer who composed several children’s books, novels, and books of poetry. She was an amazing poet and could create a poem for any and every situation in life. Many of her writings have been published, providing a written legacy for generations to come. We cannot forget that when it came to dressing for an event, she was always “on point. ” When she walked into a room at an event or party, all eyes were on her because of her beauty, charm, and charisma. She never met a stranger and did not hesitate to offer a good word of advice or a prayer for many. Creola was a member of New Bethlehem Baptist Church in Bessemer, Alabama. She loved God and was filled with the Holy Spirit to testify of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—not only through her words but also through the way she lived her life. She treated everyone she knew and met with the utmost respect and dignity. In 2001, Creola and her husband, Ira, Jr., were blessed when their daughter, Ingrid, gave them a beautiful granddaughter named Selena Inez Lucas. They loved Selena deeply and lovingly reared her as their daughter.

Creola was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur George Gaston, Jr. and Sallie Dean Gaston; her husband, Ira T. Lucas, Jr.; her sister, Arthur Jean Gaston Lewis; her great-nephew, Jordan Ellis Melton; her daughter, Ingrid Deane Lucas; her brother, Arthur Charles Gaston; her niece, Rashun Dean Gaston Aigbivbalu; and her cousin, Yvonne Wade. 

Creola leaves wonderful memories to be cherished by her son, Ira T. Lucas, III; her daughter, Selena Inez Lucas; her sisters, Rachel Dean Gaston and Patricia Mae McCollum (Donald); nieces, Dr. Rochelle Malone, Arlease Gaston, Dr. Elizabeth McCullum, Jessica Stephens, and Rachel Elizabeth Aigbivbalu; nephews, Peter Aigbivbalu, Micah Aigbivbalu, and Isaiah Stephens; cousins, William Wade (Daler) and Chelsea Wade; and a host of other relatives and friends.