Olivia Shields of | 1942 - 2023 | Obituary

Olivia Shields

July 7, 1942 - January 21, 2023

Olivia(Lee) was an only child born to Charlie and Thelma Shields on July 7, 1942. Olivia entered into rest Saturday, January 21, 2023. She was a life long resident of Suffolk, Va. She was educated in Suffolk Public Schools where she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. She also studied at Virginia State University.

Olivia joined East End Baptist Church May 3, 1959 where she was a part of the office ministry, food pantry and senior ministry until health issues made it too difficult for her to continue.

Her favorite movie was The Forever Purge and her favorite TV Shows were Black-ish, Young and Hungry and Family Feud.

Olivia was a devoted daughter who was an excellent caregiver to her mom, Thelma for many years as well as to her many aunts and uncles until their deaths.

Before retiring from her job to care for her mom, she made history as the first female dispatcher for the Suffolk-Nansemond Fire Department in November of 1973. In addition to answering the phone and dispatching fire equipment, she was required to keep a log. Her greatest joy as a dispatcher was assisting people and she learned a great deal about people's behavior under pressure.

She was preceded in death by long time companion William Turner Jr., both of her parents, paternal and maternal grandparents and a host of aunts and uncles.

Left to cherish her memories are one uncle, William (Mary) Valentine Hampton, Va., two aunts Shirley Walters Newport News, Va. and Vineonie (Abbie) Pickett Yorktown, Va., four cousins and a host of friends.

The family wishes to acknowledge with deepest appreciation all of the acts of love, concern and kindness during our time of bereavement. May God richly bless and keep you all.

A public viewing will be held 2:00 - 5:00pm, Sunday, February 5, 2023 in the Melvin J. Blowe Chapel of Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. Professional services with dignity have been entrusted to Crocker Funeral Home, Inc.

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