Olivia Jones

Olivia Rives Jones, 72, of Selma, AL, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loving family, on December 23, 2020. Olivia was born July 30, 1948 in Selma, AL and graduated from A.G. Parrish High School in 1966.

Olivia received her B.S. in Social Work in 1969 and Masters in Psychiatric Social Work in 1971 from the University of Alabama. While at the University of Alabama, she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and numerous honor societies.

She worked for several years at Spain Rehabilitation Center in Birmingham,  Alabama. She was instrumental in getting the State of Alabama to begin issuing handicap decals, and handicap sensitive policies throughout the state. Upon her move to Selma, she worked at the Selma-Dallas County Mental Health Department and established the first transitional mental health home. She devoted her life to Christian counseling, volunteering her time to help people from all walks of life as she was a polio survivor and overcomer herself. Besides her daily counseling, she helped start the Lazarus retreats, an inner healing ministry, that attracted people from all over the world. Jesus was the true love of her life, and she passionately impacted countless others with the truth that Christ was able to supernaturally heal the most broken soul.

Olivia was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Woodruff Rives and brother-in-law, James Tillman Jones. She is survived by her husband, Charles William Jones, two sons, Woodruff Rives Jones (Kristen) and Charles Luke Jones (Samantha) and one sister, Amelia Rives Jones (Bill). Grandchildren, William Foster Jones, Jude Thomas Jones, Oliver Woodruff Jones, Winston Moses Jones, Joseph Solomon Jones. Sisters-in-law Charlotte Jones, Selma, AL, and Jackie Whiddon (Gary) of Fairhope, AL. Nieces, Pamela Jones Cain, Boerne, TX., Angela Jones Williard, Selma, AL, Christina Jones Marques, Enterprise, Al., and Olivia Jones Whiddon, Chelsea, AL. and a host of other nieces and nephews.

Vigil (Visitation) will be held on Monday, December 28th at The Cathedral of Christ the King Episcopal Church, CEC from 6-8 PM. COVID guidelines will be in place.  A Resurrection Mass will be held at Cathedral of Christ the King on Tuesday, December 29th for immediate family and can be viewed online at Christ The King's Facebook page by clicking here , or on YouTube by clicking here beginning at 11:00 a.m.  A graveside service will follow at New Live Oak Cemetery at 12:45pm and all are welcome. In light of COVID, we are encouraging social distancing.

Pallbearers will be Andrew Slagel, Tim Olkie, John Slagel, Michael Barry, Brent Whiddon and Jim Williard. Honorary Pallbearers will be Charles Gray, Osa Aghedo, Rhett Marques, Bill Jones, Gary Whiddon, Reid Cain, Greg Clemons, Robert Sanford, Park Chittom ll, and Phillip Smyly.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Cathedral of Christ the King Episcopal Church, CEC. Mailing address PO Box 661, Selma AL, 36701.