Olivia Lennon

Ivor, Virginia

Olivia Stephenson Lennon, 87, of Ivor, VA, died Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at Consulate Healthcare, Windsor, VA after a long illness. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, John T. Lennon of Ivor; daughter, Celia Lennon Miller, son-in-law, James D. Miller and granddaughter, Rebecca Gray Miller, all of Richmond, VA.. She was preceded in death by a son, John Larry Lennon, and two brothers, Richard M. Stephenson and Donald D. Stephenson. Also surviving is one brother, Edgar Vick Stephenson and his wife, Ellen, both of Ivor; sister-in-law, Noralee Stephenson of Falls Church, VA; brother-in-law, Judson Lennon and his wife, Harriett, both of Mathews, NC; a special cousin, Sarah Corbin Bigby of Hopewell; nieces include Kay Lennon Cosgrove of Richfield, NC, Julia Stephenson Tyler of Mechanicsville, Vivian Stephenson Clingengpeel of Richmond, Lee Stephenson of Richmond, and Martha Stephenson Barry of Virginia Beach, VA; nephews include David Lennon of Frisco, CO, Lee Lennon of La Mesa, TX, Richard Stephenson of Arlington, VA, and Ned Stephenson of Tappahannock, VA.
Olivia, a native of Southampton County, was the daughter of the late Edgar Vick Stephenson, Sr., and the late Eleanor Daughtrey Stephenson. As a child growing up in Berlin, outside of Ivor, she was an active member of Millfield Baptist Church. She was a 1936 graduate of Ivor High School, graduate of Farmville State Teachers College (Longwood College) in 1940, and taught Home Economics at Windsor High School for 3 year before attending Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. After graduating from there in 1945 and having met her future husband, Olivia returned to Farmville and was Secretary of the Baptist Student Union for 2 years. She and John were married at Millfield Baptist Church in 1947 and she settled into life as a Baptist ministerâ??s wife beginning in Louisville, KY.
A son, Larry, and 3 years later, a daughter, Celia, were born into their family. Olivia taught piano when the children were small and was very active in the different communities and churches where they lived. She returned to teaching at Tappahannock High School in 1966 while the family was living in Essex County, VA. She also taught at King William High School from 1967-1974, Gloucester Co. Public Schools from 1974-1982, and Greensville Co. Public Schools from 1982-1985. Upon retirement in 1985 Olivia and John moved to the Stephenson family farm, Pond View, at Berlin in Southampton County. They enjoyed the challenging experiences of renovating Oliviaâ??s birthplace and improving the grounds around the property. Many happy memories on the family farm with relatives and friends are cherished parts of the tapestry of her life.
In 1986, they were blessed by the birth of their only grandchild, Rebecca Gray Miller.
An outgoing person, Olivia loved entertaining, sewing, children, quilting, family history, knitting, gardening, music, but most of all, she loved her Lord and the church life of Millfield Baptist Church where she and John joined when they moved into the community after retirement. The friendliness and caring spirit of this church has reached out to Oliviaâ??s family with the true love of Christ in its heart not only in Oliviaâ??s death, but also through her healthy, vibrant times, and her years at Consulate Health Care in Windsor. The family is so grateful for Millfield Baptist Church and its beacon of love and light in the community.
A celebration of life service will be held Friday, June 8, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Millfield Baptist Church, 31389 Millfield Rd., Wakefield, VA. Family visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will have been attended by family only.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Millfield Baptist Church, 31389 Millfield Rd., Wakefield, VA 23888; Consulate Health Care of Windsor, 23352 Courthouse Highway, Windsor, VA 23487; or to Ivor Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 228, Ivor, VA 23866. The Purviance Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home, Wakefield, assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be posted on our website at www.jtmorriss.com .