Jack Oliver passed from this life on December 5, 1917.The Rev. Harry L. Corr, pastor of Beech Grove and many other churches in Gloucester, wrote the following tribute to T. A. J. Oliver:

In Memoriam

T. A. J. Oliver –“Uncle Jack” as he was familiarly called– son of Morgan Oliver, and M. L. Brown, was born at “Hickory Fork” Gloucester County, January 1st, 1833. He was one of a family of seven children, all boys, and all of whom preceded him to the grave.

June 1879, he married Miss Lulie Rilee, who with nine children, ten grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends survive him and mourn his loss. All of his family was present at his late home, Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 5th, 1917, when his spirit passed into the “Great Beyond.”

Mr. Oliver was a man possessed of many virtues worthy of our emulation. His mind was strong and vigorous, his memory was very keen; his educational opportunities were meager, but he was a diligent reader and an earnest listener, he read good papers, books and magazines, and became well informed on many subjects. He spent his life engaged in the oyster business, and held very pronounced views on oyster legislation (with the history of which he was familiar back to the days of Julius Caesar) and was ready to defend his views against all comers.

The cause of “Temperance” never had a warmer friend, or more earnest and enthusiastic advocate. He lived to see his country, his state and the capital city of the greatest nation in the world go dry. He was a man of strong convictions, and had the courage of his convictions, when convinced that his conclusions were correct, he knew no such thing as surrender, or compromise. In his own mind, he had satisfactory proofs as to why he was what he was. A public spirited man, he was an earnest advocate of good roads and good schools and good churches. A man of ceaseless energy, like good old Deacon Caleb, he left the easy jobs for others, and sought the “hard tasks.” He worked almost to the day of his death. He was baptized into the fellowship of Providence Baptist Church when a lad between twelve and fourteen years of age; he was elected deacon, in which capacity he served about fifty years.

Convinced of the need of a church in Sheley he was foremost in its advocacy, and erection. No one dissuaded him, he talked and worked until the summer of 1904, he saw Beech Grove Baptist Church organized with nine members, he saw this work develop to seventy-five members. This church is indeed his monument. In a spot selected by himself, we laid him away Dec. 6th.

Mr. Oliver was a very hospitable man, there was always a place around his fireside and at his table for one more. He literally, “Pressed the bashful stranger to his food, And learned the luxury of doing good.”

His crowning virtue was his charity. His ear and pocketbook were ever open to the cry of the needy. Eternity alone will reveal the extent of his benefactions. On that day, many will rise up to call him blessed. H. L. Corr

Jack Oliver said that he wanted to be buried at the spot where he made the first chop in cutting down a tree to clear the land for Beech Grove Church to be built. As it came to past, the church was located on the spot of his first efforts in clearing the land. Although it was not possible for Jack to be buried in the exact location of his request, he, his wife, and all of his children except one, were buried in Beech Grove Cemetery.

After Jack Oliver’s death, his wife, Lulie, lived with her children for several years, apparently leaving the homeplace vacant. According to the 1920 census, E. L. Oliver, age 55, was living in the household of her son, S. J. Oliver, on Clay Bank Road. Jack Oliver had bought 11 acres of land on Clay Bank Road in 1900; apparently this was the location of the household referenced in the 1920 census. Other members of the family listed in this census entry were Folkes J. W. (brother to head of household), Lawrence P. (brother), Roland H. (brother), and Hattie M. (sister-in-law). By the late 1920s, George and Rebecca Emerson had moved into the homeplace on Cedar Bush Road, and Lulie Oliver lived with them at that time.

As Lulie Oliver grew older and the Emersons moved away from the home place, Lulie lived with various members of her family on a rotating basis. She developed a diabetic condition which rendered her practically blind. She departed this life on February 24, 1938.