Olive Hammons Weathersby passed away Friday, April 19, 2013. Olive was born in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana on February 12, 1920. She was the daughter of the late Harvey L. and Effie M. Hammons, and the widow of Dr. A.B. Weathersby who preceded her in death in 1988.
Olive was valedictorian of her high school class, and graduated cum laude from Louisiana Tech University in 1940. She later attended Library School at Louisiana State University. She taught high school English for three years in Oberlin, Louisiana, before moving to Washington, D.C. where she was Legislative Reference Librarian for the Social Security Board. She later served as Assistant Librarian at the Naval Medical Research Institute at Bethesda, Maryland.
In 1945 Olive married A.B. Weathersby, a Naval officer. Olive and A.B. lived an adventurous life together in Texas, Louisiana, Egypt, Iran, Japan, and Bethesda, Maryland before coming to Athens, Georgia in 1962 where A.B. was a professor of Medical Entomology at the University of Georgia.
Olive was well known for being the first civilian woman to parachute from a military plane under emergency conditions. This occurred on November 18, 1946. Olive jumped into the Sinai Desert at night from a disabled B-17, survived the landing, and later rode a camel to a train station where she and her group were rescued. Remarkably, Olive’s black high heel shoes and nylon hose were not damaged! Olive was a life-long member of the Caterpillar Club for individuals whose lives were saved by a parachute (“Life depends on a silken thread.”).
Olive was an active member in the following organizations: Beech Haven Baptist Church and its Fidelis Sunday School Class and the Young-at-Heart Club; UGA Woman’s Club; The President’s Club of UGA; Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; Double W Club; Beechwood Hills Garden Club; The Caterpillar Club; and L.I.F.T.
Olive is survived by two sons, Richard Michael Weathersby and his wife, Paula Young Weathersby of Bishop, Georgia, and Robert Benton Weathersby and his wife, Rachelle Berlin Weathersby of Dallas, Texas; a brother, Donald Wayne Hammons and his wife, Bonnie Hammons of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and several nieces and nephews. Olive was also blessed with three beautiful grandchildren, Mia Nicole Weathersby, Gabriella Marie Weathersby, and Roger Benton “Bubby” Weathersby, and friends throughout her life too numerous to list. Olive lived a long and wonderful life; she always maintained her calm demeanor during adversity; and she now resides in the loving arms of Jesus Christ in Heaven with her husband A.B.
Funeral services will be held 1PM Wednesday, April 24th at Beech Haven Baptist Church with Dr. Stewart Simms officiating. The family will receive friends from 12-1PM prior to the service at the church.
Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com
Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.
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