Uncrowned Community Builders

Louise McCoullum is the daughter of late Robert and Flora Brown. She was born in Florida and moved to Niagara Falls, New York in 1945. A graduate of Niagara Falls High School, Louise continued her education at Buffalo State College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She also completed her Master's Degree, in Creative Studies, at Buffalo State College.

Louise started her teaching career in the Niagara Falls School System, but after one year moved to the Buffalo Public Schools. She taught elementary grades K-6 before retiring after 31 years in the classroom. Since 1994, Louise and her husband have operated the family business, Fraternally Yours Gift and Card Shop.

Louise was a life-long member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She was nurtured in the A.M.E. traditions at St. John A.M.E. Church in Niagara Falls. After moving to Buffalo, she joined Bethel African Methodist Church and has been a member for over 44 years. During that time she has been actively involved in church affiliated organizations; Women's Missionary Society, both on the local, Western New York area and Conference levels. She was the president of the Women's Missionary Society at Bethel A.M.E. Church from 1988 to 1996. She is a former Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent and former chairperson of the Radio and Tape Ministry. In 2000, Louise was elected President of the Western New York Conference Women's Missionary Society. In this position she coordinates mission work for over 300 women and youth.

Louise was a member of the NAACP. She was a, "Golden Soror", a 50-year plus member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She served as the Ivy Leaf Reporter, Anti-Basileus and Basileus of Gamma Phi Omega Chapter, Buffalo, New York. She is a charter member of Xi Epsilon Omega Chapter, Amherst New York and served as its first President. The chapter was founded over 25 years ago. Louise is one of the initiators of the chapter's Leadership Intern Development Project for minority high school students. She was also co-founder of the McClendon Family Reunion Committee, which awarded her the Woman of the Year Award in 1997. She also was honored by the 1993 graduates of City Honors School, who presented the school with her portrait that hangs in the school's "Hall of Fame." In addition, she has also received the National Sojourner Truth Award from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Buffalo Chapter and the Business Service Award from Iota Phi Lambda Business Sorority, Inc.

Louise was married to the late George McCoullum for 57 56 years and together operated Fraternally Yours Gift and Crd Shop to serve the Buffalo Community.
She and George were the parents of Darrell David, R. Craig and Georgette Louise McCoullum and the grandparents of Tranyah Paulette Faulk and Imani Louise Marlena McCoullum.