Oliver McCrary Stokes
was born November 31, 1912 in Middlesex, N.C. to the late Anna and
Theophilous Stokes, Sr. He died
December 10, 1991. In 1934 he was
married to Eleanor Mae Adams. Five
children were born to this union. His
wife preceded him in death. In 1937
he began to study the bible with Jehovah Witnessed and was baptized as one
of Jehova's Witnesses in June 1938 in symbol of his dedication to Jehovah
as the only true God. His faith,
love and tender care for God's sheep was apparent to all who knew him. He arranged his affairs in 1973 to resume
working as a full-time minister. Any
who accompanied him were convinced of his faith in Jehovah's promis as he
explained such scriptures as Rev. 21:4 concerning the time when God will
"wipe away all tears from their eyes", and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow or crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for
the former things are passed away; and Acts 24:15 , and I have hope toward
God; - - - that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous
and the unrighteous.:" Thoes
left to cherish many pleasant memories are: two sons, Theodore O Stokes,
Detroit, Michigan, and Timothy Stokes, Durham, North Carolina; three
daughters, Annabell Anderson, Gadsden, Alabama, Janette Parker, Rougemont,
N.C., and Marian McCaskill, Durham, N.C..
One brother, Theophilous O. Stokes, Jr. Greensboro, N.C. and one
sister Janice Southall, East Liverpool, Ohio. One daughtyer-in-law, Connie
Stokes, Detroit Michigan: 3 son-in-law, Willie Anderson, Gadsden, Alabama,
Darnell Parker, Rougemont, N.C. and Foster McCaskill, Durham, N.C.. 2 sister in-law, Leonora Stokes,
Middlesex, N.C. and Alma Stokes, Greensboro, N.C. one brother-in-law Charles
Southall. Fourteen grandchildren,
five great grandchildren and a number of other relatives and in-laws, and
many spiritual children, brothers and sisters who loved him dearly.
