Mary C. Oliver

GAINESVILLE - Mary C. Oliver, last surviving child of the late Clifford Attaway Chandler and Lonah Webb Chandler, died Saturday, May 16, 2010, in Gainesville, after a long period of declining health. She was 96 years old. Until her health required her to move, she was a longtime resident of Commerce, and a lifelong member of First Baptist Church, Commerce.

She loved her God, her family and friends, and her community, serving them all unselfishly. An avid reader, needleworker, and quilter, the loss of vision in her 80s was a difficult adjustment, but one she made with good cheer. In her professional life, she was a career office employee at Harmony Grove Mills. After raising two boys on her own, she then turned her attention to her community. She was a charter member of the Commerce Pilot Club and was a community volunteer, visiting nursing home patients until she herself was well into her 80s. Mrs. Oliver was preceded in death by her six sisters, Mae Nesbit, Thelma Freeman, Estelle Moore, Rebecca Chandler, Alma Dunahoo and Agnes Chandler.

Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Sam and Jane Oliver, Gainesville and Bob and Jean Oliver, Braselton; grandchildren and spouses, Eric and Jammie Oliver, Susan and Scott Brown, and David Oliver and Shauna DeLong, all of Gainesville, and Kelly and David Williams, Atlanta, Cliff and Brandi Oliver, Braselton, and Neil and Amanda Oliver, Hoschton; twelve great-grandchildren, the youngest of whom was born on May 13 just prior to her death. All of them called her Grand Mary, and all of them considered her just that.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 22, in the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, with Carlton Allen officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 to 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Commerce, the Pilot Club of Commerce, or to your favorite charity.

Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce is in charge of arrangements.