Lula Lenora Tang

Lula Lenora Tang

November 25, 1946 – October 23, 2021

Lu Tang passed away peacefully on October 23 at the age of 74 following a valiant battle against cancer. She was an incredible, beloved individual whose kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness enriched the lives of so many.

Born Lula Lenora Coates to Lula Maye Bray and Roy William Coates in 1946 in Duncan, Oklahoma, Lu spent her early childhood playing in and around the family owned grocery store and gas station. She and her family moved to Placerville in 1953 and subsequently settled in Sacramento. She attended Norte Del Rio High School where she graduated in 1964. She married Allen Jackson shortly thereafter and had two children – Troy and Melodie Jackson. After she and Allen separated in 1970, Lu worked multiple jobs simultaneously to provide for her young children. She met Gordon Tang in 1976 and the couple married nearly 40 years ago, on November 27, 1981. 

Even while working full-time and caring for her children, Lu made education a priority. She received an Associate in Arts degree from Cosumnes River College in 1990, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento in 1994, and a Master of Science in Emergency Services Administration from California State University, Long Beach in 2005. 

Lu began her 28-year career with the Sacramento Police Department in 1983 working as a dispatcher. She went on to serve as a police clerk, an administrative analyst, and a training coordinator working for a range of departments from Patrol to Special Investigations to Personnel Services to the California Regional Community Policing Institute. Lu retired from the Police Department in 2011 and subsequently served on the board of the Sacramento Retired City Employees Association. She was also an active member of Madison Avenue Baptist Church where she attended and volunteered for decades. Lu enjoyed traveling, visiting family, spending time with her granddaughter, Katherine (her mischief buddy), working out with her “gym buds,” and doing thoughtful things for others. 

She is survived by her husband, Gordon; children, Troy Jackson and Melodie Lovely; son-in-law, William A. Lovely III; granddaughter, Katherine Lovely; mother-in-law Jeanne Tang; two sisters-in-law, Sylvia and Shelly Tang; three brothers-in-law, George Davis and Richard and Holland Tang; five nieces, Laura Peffer, Lisa Davis, Linda Deaver, Ginny Scott and Janeen Lutgen; and six great nieces and nephews, Mary Ellen and John Peffer; Krystle and Teagon Brakebill; and Mei-Lin and Kei-Li Scott. Lu will remain forever in our hearts and will be greatly missed. 

A funeral service in her honor will be held on Friday, October 29 at 10:00 am at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, 4148 Madison Avenue, North Highlands. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Madison Avenue Baptist Church, designated to the Samaritan’s Purse program.