OLIVIA GROSS, the second child of the late Harry and Matilda Gross
was born on February 6, 1929. She died at her home on February 6,
2019 with her family by her side, the same way she lived her life; in
peace and quietness.

Olivia was a native of Calvert County and lived there her entire life.
She attended the public schools of Calvert County.

On December 3, 1949 Olivia married the love of her life, the late
William Franklin Gross. She was affectionally know to him as "Lee”.
From this union nine children were born; William, Daniel, Olivia,
Mary, Fred, Randolph, Delores, Naomi and Edward.

Olivia was an excellent cook and worked in several restaurants in
Calvert County. She also worked at Mutual Elementary School as a
custodian. Later she began working at the Baltimore Gas and Electric
Nuclear Power Plant as a custodian. Olivia greatly loved this job and
soon was promoted to the position of Facilities Custodian Supervisor.
She had an excellent work ethic and received several recognitions from
BG and E for her outstanding work which included "Employee of the
Month and "Employee of the Year".

As a young teen, she enjoyed singing on the choir at St. John’s United
Methodist Church. After she was married, she studied the bible with
Jehovah's Witnesses. She was baptized and was an active member for
many years. She instilled biblical principles in the lives of her children.
Later in life she returned and joined St. John's UM Church and was
an active member until her illness prevented her from attending. While
at St. John's UM Church, she sang on the Senior Choir and was a
member of the United Methodist Women.

She loved to travel as well as to go many gospel singing events through
the east coast. In 1993 she joined the Solomon's Fire Department
and Rescue Squad Third Alarm Auxiliary where she held the office
of president, vice president, Chaplin, and secretary. She is a life time
member of Solomon's Auxiliary. Olivia was a volunteer for Hospice
for fifteen years. She was also blessed to have friends and be a member
of the Red Hat Society for over eight years.

Because of her many hours of volunteering in the community, Olivia
received an award presented by Governor of the State of Maryland
for more than one thousand hours of volunteer service. She also was
recognized and received an award from Calvert County Park and
Recreation as an "Outstanding African American in the Community."
She will be sorely missed and will long be remembered as a woman
of faith, who had unconditional love for her husband and sacrificed
tremendously for her family. She was a hard worker and taught her
children that education was the key to a better life. This desire for
education continued with her grandchildren; encouraging them to
strive for excellence in school and when they graduated; she rewarded
each one with a gift of $ 100.

Preceded in death; husband, William; daughter Delores J ones; sisters
Rosie Gantt (James), Mary Gross and Margaret Gross; brothers,
William, James, Melvin (Deborah) and Harry Gross; daughter in law,
Josephine Gross.

Left to cherish her memories; her children, William Gross, Daniel
Gross, Olivia Brooks, Mary Mackall, Fred Gross (Madelyn), Randolph
Gross (Theresa), Naomi Watkins (Lee) and Edward Gross; stepson
Page Gross (Minnie), sisters, Doris Harris (George), Mildred and Elaine
Gross; sisters in law, Eva and Evelyn Gross, Viola Foote, Agnes Jefferson,
Anna Gross, Edith Johnston, Alice Gross, Annie Mae Gross; twenty
grandchildren; five step grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren;
and three great, great grandchildren; special niece Rosetta Johnson;
a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends, especially those at the
Southern Community Center.

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