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A former Southfield Public Schools teacher is suing saying she was discriminated against on the basis of her religion, which forbade her from throwing a school Valentine's Day party. (MLive.com file photo)

There isn't much love left between the Southfield Public Schools and a former teacher.

A 56-year-old Detroit woman is suing the district for discrimination claiming they ordered her to throw a Valentine's Day party even though it was against her religion as a Jehovah's Witness.

Yvonne Lemmons had been a fourth-grade teacher at MacArthur University Academy for 10 years before any issues arose due to her religion, which forbids the celebration of Valentine's Day due to its pagan origins.

"She's really a good woman devoted to teaching students," said Kathy Bogas, Lemmons' Bingham Farms-based attorney. "Her abilities were never questioned until she challenged this directive."

On Feb. 12, 2014, the school's principal asked Lemmons to organize a Valentine's Day party, the suit claims.

Lemmons told the principal that "her faith prohibits the observance of St. Valentine's Day and her requested organization of a party celebrating same would violate the tenet of her religion," the lawsuit says.

Bogas said that, in the past, the students' parents helped organize the party.

It was unclear why this changed in 2014. Southfield Public Schools spokeswoman Jacqueline Robinson said the district does not comment on pending litigation.

Lemmons claims the school's failure to accommodate her requests not to organize the party amounted to religious discrimination, according to the suit.

"Defendant rejected all the Plaintiff's suggestions that would have permitted students to have a holiday celebration without Plaintiff violating her religious beliefs,' the suit says.

Lemmons did not show up to work on the day of the party. The district soon laid her off effective June 30, 2014, which Lemmons felt was in retaliation for the Valentine's Day party, according to the suit.

Lemmons filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging discrimination.

Bogas said the EEOC investigated and found "reasonable cause" Lemmons was discriminated against based on her religion, but the dispute could not be resolved. Lemmons received a right to sue order from the EEOC in October 2015 and filed the suit in U.S. District Court Jan. 4.

The suit does not list a dollar amount.

Bogas said Lemmons does not work for Southfield schools any longer and is now employed at a charter school.

John Counts is a reporter on MLive.com's statewide Impact team. Send tips to johncounts@mlive.com or you can follow him on Twitter.