Olivia Washington

On Thursday, April 11, 2013 Olivia Paula Wynn Washington peacefully departed this life at the home she lived in Dover, Delaware. Olivia was born to the late James Aris Wynn and Bessie Ghee Wynn on October 31, 1923 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. She was educated in the public schools of Orange, New Jersey. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and minors in Economics and Psychology from Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama in 1948. Olivia continued her education at New York University and earned a Master of Arts in Group Work Sociology. She further studied at Rutgers, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Columbia University, New York, New York; The University of Colorado at Boulder and Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Olivia served as Director of the YWCA in Greensboro, North Carolina. She relocated to Birmingham, Alabama where she served as Director of the Birmingham YWCA. Olivia joined the faculty of the Media Department at Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and subsequently joined the faculty of the Sociology and Anthropology Department. She moved back to New Jersey and taught in the Edison, New Jersey Public District. Olivia worked for the Union County Welfare Board, Union County, New Jersey, as a caseworker. In 1965, she joined the staff of the Dover Mental Health Clinic in Dover, Delaware. In 1966 she joined the faculty at Delaware State College, Dover, Delaware, where she became one of three teachers in the Sociology Department. The department grew and she became chairman. Olivia retired in 1988 after 22½ years of dedicated service to Delaware State College. Olivia became a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Scholastic Society at Talladega and, she charted a chapter at Delaware State College. Olivia served as advisor to the Delaware State College chapter for 12 years. She continued to serve in this capacity after her retirement. A Golden Soror and Life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she was initiated in Chi Chapter, Talladega College, in 1947. Upon coming to Delaware, she became a member of Epsilon Iota Omega Chapter. She served several terms as Basileus and Graduate Advisor. She also served as Parliamentarian, Grammateus, 1st Anti-Basileus. She was the first recipient of Delaware State College’s Award for Excellence in Community Service in 1988. Her participation included NAACP, National Council of Negro Women (Life Member), Lecturer for the Delaware Humanities Forum, member of the American Association of University Professors’ committee on the special problems of traditionally black colleges and member of the Governor’s Council of Economic Service for the State of Delaware. Her life is a model of commitment to family, friends and education! Like all mothers who experience included the Great Depression, she urged people to eat and enjoy. She believed in `passing it on and passing it forward`. “She had a warm personality and an infectious laugh and chuckle”. Olivia was predeceased by Harry Washington, 3rd, her devoted husband of 49 years and her only sibling, Thelma Grey Perkins, whom she cherished. Olivia is survived by her loving daughter, Lisa W. Goldson-Lyons (Hugh), one adopted brother, Gustav Ofusu (Mildred), one niece, Judith Grey Gray (Glenn), two nephews, Lyndoors Grey (Carolyn) and Daine A. Grey (Ruthanne), and Gloria Williams, four grandnieces: Judith Gray Mabern (Michael), Leslie Gray, Christen Grey, Nichole Miller (Joseph) and four grandnephews: Glenn A. Gray (Monique), Daine Grey Jr. (Keir), Michael Grey (Christine), Keenan Grey (Deandra), ten grandnieces and nephews: Nia Grey, Alexander Grey, Maya Mabern, Emily Grey, Nile Grey, Daine Grey 3rd, Shelby Miller, Daniel Grey, Christopher Gray, Sasha Miller, two special cousins: William Compton and Jean Wilson. One honorary niece: Gloria Blake Williams, Godchildren: Olivia Thomas, Kera Morris, Tosha Gibson, Howard and Eric Hamilton. Devoted and loving friends: James Scott King, Audrey O. Daniels. Lola Tue, Geraldine Thomas, Dionne Postley, Donise Thomas, Ricky Thomas, Jermaine Moore and Munsel Harmon.

Olivia Washington

October 31, 1923 - April 11, 2013