Olivia L. Jones

About 650 feet south of 22462 File Road, Bowling Green, Virginia (at a location previously known as “Edmond Berry”), stood a large Colonial Saltbox style home, owned by Rev. Dr. Chester A. Lindsey and his wife Lelia B. Lindsey.

On July 17, 1918, in one of the upper rooms of the home, Olivia Beatrice Lindsey was born.  She became the eldest of three brothers (William, George, Chester) and two sisters (Mildred, Leah). Due to her father’s devotion to the Clergy, her upbringing was very strict. At the File Schoolhouse, she caught the eye of a fellow student named Gus Jones. Olivia Jones moved to the city of Richmond Virginia where she attained her bachelor's degree from Virginia Union University. At the campus, she was one of the founding members of the Alpha Phi Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

She was employed as a teacher at various, predominantly Black, schools in Richmond. Gus Jones continually pursued her, and initiated courtship.  His efforts culminated with their wedding on April 13, 1946. This led to a 66 year-long marriage, which ended with his death on October 14, 2012.

In 1946 gossip swirled stating Olivia’s success in education, employment and marriage was due to her father’s influential position in society. She decided to disprove those rumors, by going where she was unknown, and succeeding. She went to the University of Minnesota and attained her Master’s in 1949. 

At Minnesota, with only six (6) credits from attaining her PhD, separation from her husband weighed on her. Olivia returned to her husband and they moved to Philadelphia Pennsylvania in search of better job opportunities.  This proved fruitful as her husband landed a position with Merck chemical company and Olivia became a 4th grade school teacher at Oliver Wendell Holmes school in Philadelphia. She was an extremely devoted teacher who would personally notify parents of children who were not performing at their potential.  When the teachers were on strike, she crossed the picket lines, because she believed the children's education was of utmost importance. Olivia taught in the Philadelphia public school system for almost 30 years.  One morning, her son, (Gus Jones) noticed she seemed tired and distressed.   She stated, I don't feel like facing those unruly kids anymore.  Her son asked her if she could afford to retire and she said yes.  Her son's response, "take the money and run".   With that she, and her husband, retired.   They returned to Virginia and lived within a mile of the schoolhouse where they first met.

Olivia was a devout member of Jerusalem Baptist church, where she served as a Deaconess. She enjoyed occasionally playing the piano, pinochle, board games, dominoes, amateur photography, croquette, canning country food, making fruitcakes, gingerbread, hanging Christmas decorations and talking to her friends and relatives in Virginia.

After her husband died, Olivia absolutely refused to leave her beloved home on File Road. Friends and relatives continued to look in on her.  Following the urgent advice of her physician, friends and relatives, her son "kidnapped" her on December 6, 2014 to live with his family in Houston, Texas. Even in the grasp of dementia Olivia always remembered Bowling Green, Jerusalem Baptist Church and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. On May 26, 2024 at 3:38 PM Olivia quietly passed from her earthly life to eternity, while surrounded by her immediate family. 

Olivia is survived by: Son Augustus “Gus” Jones, Daughter-in-law Dorothy “Dot” Jones, Grand-daughter Araevia “Rae” Jones, Niece Sandra Boisseau, Nephew William Lindsey, Nephew Steward Lindsey, and a host of family and friends. The family wants to especially thank Ms. Mary Williams, Ms. Penny Jorie and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (ZFB) for their continued attention, support, and prayers.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”                Proverbs 31:10, 25, 28, 30-31