Paula Dianne Butler

Obituary For Paula Dianne Butler

Paula Dianne Butler
January 28, 2026

Obituary: Date of Birth: March 6, 1952 Date of Transition: January 28, 2026 Paula Dianne Butler was born to her father and beloved mother Pauline Love Carter on March 6, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois. She was the seventh of ten total siblings. She was preceded in death by both of her parents and five siblings, including her fraternal twin brother at birth, Rosalind, Kathalyn, Ollie, and Hiram Carter.

Paula attended DuSable High School and later attended Harold Washington College and Kennedy-King College. She worked in the field of elementary education for most of her professional life, as a special education teacher’s assistant at Paul Revere Elementary School and a substitute teacher in schools around the city of Chicago. She left her career in education in 2005 at the age of 53 years old, enjoying the last twenty years of her life in retirement.

Paula was blessed to have had six children: Alvernia McCarthy-West in 1969, Shunda McCarthy in 1974, Dahomy Dockery in 1986, Tatianne Butler in 1990, Lonnell Butler Jr. in 1992, and DeAndrae Butler in 1993. Her last three children were born from her union of 14 years to her last husband Lonnell Butler Sr., married January 6, 1990.

Paula found her way to the Lord at the early age of 21 years old. She was baptized and maintained a strong relationship with Jesus Christ throughout the rest of her life. She was a passionate woman of God and a well-known prayer warrior and evangelist. She was known for her fervor and fearlessness in sharing the gospel with anyone that she encountered: always making sure to leave strangers and friends alike with a “love token” of spiritual literature, a lasting reminder of her unshakeable faith and belief in God. In the later years of her life, she faithfully attended Renewal Life Church and New Memorial Missionary Baptist Church. Paula was called home on January 28, 2026.

She leaves to mourn all six of her children; two grandchildren – Micaiah Johnson and Kinarah Heard; four surviving siblings – William (Eurgenteen) Carter, Ronald (LaGenne) Carter, Caroline Williams, and Paulette Blackshire; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. She will be sorely missed.

Service:
Saturday, February 7, 2026
5:00PM - 7:00PM

Leak & Sons Funeral Homes - Chicago
7838 S. Cottage Grove
Chicago, IL 60619