Eddie Mae Oliver

Eddie Mae Willis Oliver was born in Memphis, Tennessee on December 4,1942, to the late James Willie Willis and the late Johnnie Mae Willis. Eddie Mae Willis Oliver was blessed to share her life with four siblings: James Willie Willis, Jr., Carol Ann Miller, Shirley (Lawrence) McKey and the late Patrice Furguson. Reared in the Orange Mound community, she remained a resident of the area and of Memphis Tennessee throughout her lifetime. Acceptance of Christ during her childhood and a continual belief in his love, mercies, grace and guidance undergirded a faith walk and instilled characteristics of sharing, caring, and giving. Serving according to His will and purposed plan for her life she sought heaven as her eternal home. Red, as she was affectionately called, believed in the accomplishment of the impossible and the overcoming of the improbable. Embracing life and all the wonders it held a quest and thirst for knowledge commenced with education in the Memphis City Public School System leading to graduation from Melrose High School in the “Wildcat Class of 1960”. This academic quest continued with attendance at Shelby State Community College (presently known as Southwest Community College) with conferring of an Associates of Science in Nursing followed by attendance and graduation from Southern Illinois University with conferring of a B.S in Health Care Management. This fostered a nursing career of longevity and accomplishment of becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) that spanned 40(+) plus years; before retiring. The late Eddie Mae Willis Oliver started her initial nursing position at Baptist Memorial Hospital and careered steps led to Regional One Health (formally known as The Med) where she practiced in the capacity of RN Supervisor until retirement. Eddie Mae Willis Oliver was united in holy matrimony to the late Charles Oliver, Sr. A childhood romance that began at Melrose, grew and blossomed into 53 years of cherished togetherness in marriage. This lifetime love was blessed with one daughter and three sons: Charles Oliver, Jr. (Patricia); Johnie Michelle Shipp (Steve); Joseph Maurice Oliver and Marvin Andre Oliver (preceding her in death). As a devoted wife and mother, Eddie Mae’s internalized lessons of nurturing, discipline and family support were passed on to her family. Always guarding her family in life with a mother’s never ceasing watch care she employed a sense of responsibility that included brutal honesty, yet this was seasoned with words of wisdom, and the sharing of life experiences to prevent wayward steps and repeating of making the same errors, all done compassionately and shrouded in unconditional love. Enthusiastic about seeing the world that God had made, traveling was a love Red shared with her husband Charles, Sr. They experienced many adventures throughout Tennessee and other places such as trips to Brazil, Hawaii and Mexico. But special to her was the shared annual trip to Las Vegas, Nevada with her hometown brother to reunite with their siblings from California. As with most grandmothers spending time with her grandchildren ignited a spark of brightness in her eyes along with escaping smiles and laughter from the depths of her soul as her heart was filled with pride, joy and overflowing contentment. With a life portraying of beauty, too numerous are memories of this loving matriarch to name. We acknowledge that 81 years of an earthy existence is considered a “vapor, that appeareth for a time, and then vanished away” (James 4:14), when compared to her now eternal life. But of her rich earthly contributions… of devoted love, support, untiring efforts, shoulder of to cry on, being only a phone call away, serious talks, listening ear and the keeping of a watchful eye over every member of the Oliver family…we that remain will always feel, remember and gain strength from her refreshing precious earthly watch care. On Saturday, June 15, 2024, the late Eddie Mae Willis Oliver, purpose fulfilled and completed, was summoned to a deserved glorious life of eternal peace and everlasting joy with God. Oh, how we miss our loved one. Our hearts are sore and heavy with grief, but in this transition, we rejoice and thank God for having shared this woman as a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. We thank God for her well-lived life and that we all have special memories that will forever live, deeply rooted in our hearts until we meet again. A legacy built and loved ones that remain to cherish precious memories and carry on her legacy include: one daughter, Johnie Michelle Shipp (Steve); two sons, Charles Oliver, Jr. (Patricia) and Joseph Maurice Oliver, twelve (12) grandchildren, twelve (12) great grandchildren, one brother James Willie Willis, Jr (Amelia)., two sisters Carol Ann Miller and Shirley McKee (Lawrence), three sister in-laws Ruth Bryant-Gordon (Rev Gordon), Marilyn Mitchell, and Donna Shields (Howard), a brother in law Lindon Oliver, and a host of niece, nephews, cousins, and friends. And God said, “WELL DONE”.

Eddie Mae Oliver

December 4, 1942 - June 15, 2024