Lucy’s Life Story

The members of St. Columba Catholic Church, close friends and relatives were deeply saddened by the sudden passing of their beautiful and loving sister, friend, wife and mother, Lucy Ann Castro, 80, on July 26, 2022. Lucy was born in Basile, LA in December 1941, the 3rd child of Lindsey and Lovinia Clophus. She spent her childhood in Eunice, LA, attending St. Mathilda Elementary School and Charles Drew High School. At Charles Drew, she was a varsity basketball player. Lucy attended Grambling College in Grambling, LA and later received a diploma in Business Administration from SOWELA Technical College in Lake Charles, LA.

Lucy met and married her first husband, Gladwin Ball in 1964 and had three lovely daughters – Angela, Karen and Tracy. Being a part of the Ball family, Lucy met many great musical artists such as Duke Ellington, Little Richard, the Temptations, Ike and Tina Turner, Ray Charles, The Jackson 5. All of whom performed at Ball’s Auditorium to large audiences. In addition, Lucy was instrumental in the opening of Ball’s Fried Chicken restaurants in Chicago; Houston; Lake Charles; and Scottsdale, some of which are still in operation today. In the late 1970s, Lucy, her sister in-law, Brenda Ball, and her mother in-law, Evelyn Ball, operated the largest charity bingo events in Lake Charles’ history, which drew thousands of people.

In 1987, Lucy and her daughters moved from Lake Charles to Berkeley, where she became a member of St. Columba Parish. At St. Columba, Lucy found a vibrant, inviting, spirit filled community. Lucy’s engaging personality, positive spirit and beautiful smile drew people to her as she made all feel welcome. She had a close-knit group of friends whom she met with for coffee and donuts after 8 AM Mass on Sundays and with whom she gathered with at church events and other venues about town. Lucy was fully involved in the church through her work as an office volunteer, the Women’s Group and the Knights of Peter Claver (KPC) Ladies Auxiliary. She prepared the food and coordinated St. Columba’s annual Chili Bowl Bingos, Old School and Zydeco dances. She organized retreats and served as a Eucharistic Minister, bringing communion to homebound parishioners. Lucy’s caring nature had a strong influence on her daughters and led them to work in the field of healthcare.

Lucy married her second husband, Douglas Castro, on June 16, 1989, where they later made their home in Albany, CA. Douglas enthusiastically welcomed Lucy’s daughters into their home and played a significant and important role in their lives. For five years, Lucy and Douglas owned and operated Lucy’s Creole Kitchen in downtown Oakland. While Douglas ran errands for the business in the morning and helped wash dishes in the evening, Lucy prepared the delicious soul food, such as gumbo, jambalaya, fried chicken, fried catfish, and desserts. It was a life filled with hard work, family, a kind heart and a caring spirit, faith in God, great friendships, Cosmopolitans (her favorite drink), and Zydeco music and dancing.

Lucy was preceded in death by her parents, Lindsey and Lovinia Clophus, her sisters Frances Clophus, Theresa Johnson, Rita Bell and Eva Brignac and her beloved grandson, Aaron Permillion.

Lucy’s love and memories will remain in the hearts of her husband of 33 years, Douglas Castro; her daughters – Angela Ball Levine (Arthur) of Pinole, CA; Karen Permillion of Albany, and Tracy Jolivette (Gregory) of Salem, OR; her sister, Catherine Clophus of Eunice, and her brother, Bishop Johnny Clophus, Sr. (Georgia) of Sulphur, LA; her two grandsons, Michael Permillion II of Albany and Malik Drumright of Oakland; four granddaughters, Lucy, MaKayla, Olivia, and Kamilla Jolivette of Salem; three great-grandsons: Michael III, Marcus, and Mavryk Permillion, and one great-granddaughter: Na’imah Permillion; Feline granddaughters: Socks and Gem. In addition, Lucy leaves a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and close friends.