Olivia Lucas

LUCAS, Ms. Olivia - Age 77, passed away Saturday September 14, 2013 at her residence. Family hour 11:30AM Friday, September 20, 2013 at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 174 Branch Street, with funeral service commencing immediately at 12:00PM. Pastor Keyon S. Payton, Officiating. Interment Perry Mount Park Cemetery, 878 N. Perry St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11:30AM Friday. Ms. Lucas will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 268 N. Perry St., and may be viewed from 2:00PM-8;00PM Thursday. Olivia was born on May 29, 1936 to the union of Oliver and Irene Mathes in Pontiac, Michigan. She was the youngest child of a large loving family of eleven children: two boys and nine girls. Olivia was a graduate of Pontiac High School; and was the first black woman to be hired by the Michigan Bell Telephone Company soon after graduation as a communications operator. She was later promoted to a responsible position designing sites for new installations. After forty years with the telephone company, she worked at the J.C. Penney Store in the jewelry department as a sales clerk. Olivia enjoyed her work and endeared herself to many of her co-workers and customers during her working years. At an early age, Olivia accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and was a member of the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church where she enjoyed singing in choir. “Liv,” as she was often lovingly called, had only one son, Steven Surad Mathes Lucas, but her love of children attracted many nieces and nephews to her. She lavished love on all of them, but of course, had a special love for Steven and his children, Elijah and Jus’tyce. Olivia is survived by her son, Steven Surad Mathes Lucas; two grandchildren, Elijah and Jus’tyce; sister, Joan (James Herbert) White; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins who loved dearly. We loved her much—but God loved her best. Olivia was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver and Irene Mathes; seven sisters, Anna Mae (Coley) Gracey, Evylena (Julius) Ward, Katie Mae (Leon) Looney, Mary Alice (Francis Verl) White, Eunice Fortier, Hilda (Zeal) Hamilton and Constance (William) Gracey; two brothers, Rev. James (Ethlyn) Mathes and Oliver (Vivian) Mathes Jr.

Olivia Lucas

May 29, 1936 - September 14, 2013