Leonell Oliver's Obituary
Leonell Oliver Obituary
How do you celebrate a life like mine?! I’ve lived a rich, full, good and blessed life! The best of all possible worlds. You will stop crying and probably get mad when I tell you that I have been so richly and abundantly blessed that I got all of my blessings and some of yours too! We were promised three score and ten and I’ve gotten that and more.
I don’t have to start with “I was born in …” If I’m dead you already know I was born. Some probably won’t like this obituary. Well, don’t get mad with my family because I began writing this in 2010 and I updated it periodically. Others won’t like the service, but that is OK too. Since you aren’t the one going home it doesn’t matter anyway. What really matters is: (1) How you’re going to answer when your name is called! (2) Did you help anybody? (3) Did you feed somebody? (This doesn’t count your hungry relatives) (4) Did you clothe anybody? (5) Did you give anybody shelter? And guess what? I think you’d better answer God honestly since He knows the answers already.
Now let’s get to the stuff you really want to read. I was born. Yep! Sure was! I had three mothers and three fathers. They’re all dead too so you know I was some kind of kid! I was well educated, married to James on May 10, 1975 in Houston, Texas, had five children: Kenneth E. (who preceded me in death), Deryl D. (Nina), Arica C…. these are really Jewell’s biological children but they are mine too… Jamesann Leonell and James Lydell II, sixteen grandchildren and eighteen great – grandchildren. Now you want to know all of the names of the husbands, wives, partners, girlfriends, boyfriends, grandchildren, great grandchildren, birthdates and where they live? Do you really think I can remember all of that? It would take nine pages to write all of it anyway!
I excelled in education as well as educating others and received many, many accolades, awards, plaques and recognitions. I have a Masters Degree and enough hours for a Doctorate! I am a bibliophile so don’t let my children take my books to the Salvation Army and Good Will (although I know they’re already gone). The most cherished book I own is the Bible. I have many, many Bibles. If owning a Bible would get you into Heaven you know I’ve already seen God’s face. Aren’t you jealous?
I retired from Chicago Public Schools after teaching thirty-two years there. Prior to that I taught five years in Houston my hometown. Yep, that’s where it all beganÖthe three fathers and three mothers, my biological Mom having died when I was five. Even so I was raised there, baptized by Rev. N.S. Brown at Progressive New Hope Baptist Church there and married James in the same church by the same Minister. There is a lot of family history there on the corner of Elgin and Delano.
Of course I was hurt when my Mom died but it was explained to me in such a beautiful way that God and I were still alright. My Godmother asked me if when I went out to pick flowers would I pick the weeds and scrubs or would I pick the prettiest flowers that I could find. Of course I said that I would pick the prettiest flowers. She told me that God wanted the same thing. He always wanted the prettiest and the best. That’s why He picked my Mom from His garden. It wasn’t until my dog died that I got really mad and wondered what kind of God would take a little girl’s Mom and then take her dog too! Well, now I know. He is a good and loving God who never makes a mistake; and when you go to your garden to pick flowers you are not going to bring in the scrubs and weeds either! You’re going to pick the most beautiful and most loved flowers in the garden, just like God!
I’ve buried three Fathers and three Mothers, two sisters, one brother, nieces and a nephew. God picked my son Kenneth in 2003; then my brother Michael in 2009. Most pains go away in time. Those two never did. There is still James Earnest (one brother) left. There are also nieces, great-nieces and a nephew left. Also there is OK, here we goÖ You are so noseyÖ sorry, you are inquisitive.
Children: Nina, Arica (Damon, Sr.) Jamesann, James Lydell (Ronyelle)Grandchildren: Kenny’s children are Patrice, LaKenya, DeLamar, Kenneth Jr., Joshua James, Jamal and Roy’L; Nina’s children are Sade and Sheree; Arica’s children are Shamon, Damon Jr., Daric, David James; James Lydell’s children are Deion Renay Jayann, J’Dell Mikel Lawrence and Randen James Issac; eighteen great grandchildren; many other relatives and friends whom mourn from Texas to Illinois. I bid all of you a fond farewell and God Bless.
To Gerri, Juanita, and Alzenia, Edna and I are having a ball.
Live right and righteous. We’re waiting for you.
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