St. Lisa Rochelle Hunter was born in Enid, Oklahoma, on August 27, 1963. The daughter of Aurelius Clayton and Eileen Roland, the stepdaughter of Samuel Roland, affectionately known as “Papa.” Lisa was called home to eternal rest on Saturday, June 29, 2024.
Lisa was raised by her Stepfather, Samuel and Mother, Elieen in Ponca City, OK with her three sisters, Avis, Carla, and Antonia. Growing up, Lisa was always known as the diva of the family. She loved high fashion and modeling. She attended West Junior High School and later Ponca City High School. Lisa was always a diligent worker and incredibly responsible. While in high school, she was a member of Decca, which was a work study program that prepared young people to work and function in the real world. This program afforded her the opportunity to work after school at Kmart as a help desk manager, a position normally held by people twice her age.
Lisa was incredibly close to her parents, particularly her mother. As her sisters would tell you, Lisa was always their mother’s favorite and would be the first one to tattletale on the others with her phrase, “OOOOO I’m gonna tell mama”! Lisa loved the outdoors. She enjoyed going camping, fishing with her “Papa” and loved visiting her grandparents. Lisa, like the rest of her sisters, inherited her mother’s love of cooking and often helped her mother prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the family.
Lisa attended John Brown University in Siloam Springs Arkansas where she double majored in Business Administration and Home Economics with a hope of one day working in the fashion and selfcare industry. While at John Brown University she met the love of her life, Michael Hunter. Lisa and Michael would have their first and only son Aaron Hunter who she affectionately called “Roni.” Soon after Aaron was born, Lisa moved to Connecticut with Michael and married. Lisa worked at ACES Village School in North Haven as a teacher’s assistant. She learned sign language and helped innumerable children eventually integrate into regular school. She worked at ACES for over 31 years, developed many close friendships with her coworkers and was preparing to get clearance to return to duty to finish out her last few years before retiring.
Lisa was a dedicated and devoted member of Church of God and Saints of Christ (COGASOC), First Tabernacle, New Haven. She accepted the Hebrew Israelite Way of Life that the late Prophet William Saunders Crowdy brought and preached to countless souls. Lisa answered Gods call for membership, baptized, and received the whole armor of God at the 1997 Annual Passover in Belleville, VA. She accepted and was profoundly serious about the tenets of the COGASOC Way of Life. Lisa loved her way of life unconditionally. Weekly, she could be found in the First Tabernacle performing a myriad of duties and tasks that kept the Lord’s work front and center in her life.
Lisa played an active role in the Daughter’s Quorum; she held the office of Rachel. One of her outstanding accomplishments in the Quorum, along with the other daughters, was ensuring food insecurities were addressed to people in the community. This initiative began with the Tabernacle opening the doors for members of the community to enjoy a meal for Thanksgiving.
This initiative eventually evolved into adopting a neighborhood school and giving gift cards for Thanksgiving meals to families the school identified as being the most in need. As a thankful gesture, families on each side of the Tabernacle were given gift cards as well from the Daughter’s Quorum.
Lisa was the Chairperson of the Trustee Board of First Tabernacle New Haven. She was steadfast in fulfilling all the responsibilities that the position required. She did not waver when decisions had to be pondered, made, and executed with her colleagues on the board of trustees. One of Lisa’s last duties was when she stepped in and volunteered to direct the choir for a brief time. She was excited about the challenge and gave it her all.
Lisa was deeply loved by all who were around her. People often speak of that bright smile she had on her face all the time, her warm and kind spirit which caused you to adore her and become protective of her. She had a strong moral foundation and spiritual grounding. Those that knew her well also know about her other side. Lisa did not put up with any mess, do not let that sweet smile and disposition fool you. Lisa would be the first one to call you out, hold you accountable, stand her ground and make it clear what she was and was not going to do, and if you didn’t like it, tough patooties!
Lisa is preceded in death by her father, Aurelius Clayton, mother, Eileen Hunt-Roland, Stepfather, Samuel Roland, grandparents, Hugh Richardson (Daddy), Wylelia Richardson (Mother), brother, Samuel Roland Jr., and nephew, Damon Falls. She is left to be mourned by her son Aaron Hunter; sisters, Avis Hunt, Carla Hughes, Antonia Ward, and Malinda Thomas; nieces and nephews, Jamie, Antra, Terrance, Quinton, Adonnis, Jasime, Wisteria, Mario, Rebecca, Erik, and Kevin Jr.; numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, one great-grandniece; a loving mother-in-law/surrogate mother, Augustine (Tina) Hunter and a brother-in-law, Kevin Hunter. Lisa will be sorely missed.
Lisa’s family will be receiving friends and family during her Calling Hour on Sunday, July 14, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Trinity Temple COGIC at 285 Dixwell Avenue in New Haven, CT 06511. A celebration of Life will take place following at 3:00 pm. Ms. Hunter’s internment will be in Suffolk, Virginia at a later date. Friends and family can leave messages and condolences at www.hkhfuneralservices.com for the Hunter family.