Sis. Olivia Mae Johnson Vallrie was born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana to Clarence, Sr. and Ethel Bell Johnson. She graduated from Lowery High School and graduated from The Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with B.A. in Social Studies and a minor in Library Science. She was also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She was married for twenty-five years to the late Ivory P. Vallrie, Sr. To this union was born Mrs. Toni Mosley and Mr. Ivory P. Vallrie, Sr. She later obtained an M.Ed. in Educational Technology from McNeese State University. Additionally, she completed post-graduate work towards an additional Master's in Library Science at Louisiana State University and held additional education certifications.

A Loving Wife

Sis. Vallrie married the love of her life, Ivory after college graduation and his tour of duty in Vietnam. They enjoyed watching movies and traveling on cross-country road trips with their children. They shared countless jokes and memories of HBCU life and living through the Civil Rights Movement. They enjoyed comedy shows and concerts. Sis. Vallrie was a devoted daughter in-law and this past summer she and Ivory would have been married fifty years.

A Devoted Mother and Grandmother

Sis. Vallrie loved her children with a fierce and corrective love, continually encouraging them to be their best in whatever they sought to achieve. Her children have fond memories of her reading to them; she petitioned the Lord daily on their behalf, often sending them Scriptures that she was studying. Regularly dispensing wisdom, she would say, "If you trust God for one thing, you must trust Him for everything." She proudly decorated her home with her son's artwork and would boast about her daughter's published writings. She enjoyed eating Raisinets with her son and laughing at endless jokes about their favorite family movies. Sis. Vallrie also enjoyed traveling to see her daughter and cooking her son's favorite meals. She was there for the birth of her only grand-daughter and was always overjoyed to see her.

A Lifelong Educator in the Secular and Spiritual Classroom

Sis. Vallrie was the first in her immediate family to graduate from college, which instilled in her a passion to ensure that any young person seeking an education would have every advantage-including giving of her own resources to do so. She believed that reading was the gateway to achieving life goals. To this end, she was the school sponsor of the library club and she championed the Accelerated Reader program and led the MS Read-a-Thon. She was the first Black librarian at Fenton and Lacassine High Schools, respectively. She fought for diversity on homecoming courts, cheerleading squads, and chaired MLK programs and Black History Month celebrations. She was the bridge for the Black students who were suddenly students at Lacassine High school when Fenton High School closed. Any student who walked into her library would be greeted with a smile, wisdom, encouragement, and a space of solace. She once sponsored a "mock crash" to deter students from drinking and driving. Upon discovering that much of the world's rainforests were becoming extinct, she transformed her Lacassine Library into a life-like rainforest to teach her students of its importance. Her students were her family; her home is littered with their pictures and gifts. Seeing her former students gave her so much joy. Sis. Vallrie was also a regular substitute teacher and mentor to young teachers and librarians. A student of the Word who loved Bible trivia and Christian education activities, Sis. Vallrie adored her Red Circle Girls and True Love Waits Discipleship groups and her junior Vacation Bible School class. She beamed with pride when she spoke of her beloved Sunday School students. She loved doing activities and teaching them God's Word. Even in the pandemic, she sent them care bags with Sunday school lessons and treats. Sis. Vallrie was also a faithful Deaconess and trustee; She loved Pastor Trent and she was a mother/mentor to the young women of St Paul Baptist Church.

A Giver, Encourager, and Community Activist

Sis. Vallrie was very generous and willingly gave candy, fruits and vegetables from her garden, clothing, gas money/ quarters for college students, and graduation gifts. She loved giving advice and wise counsel. She had a way of making you feel seen and heard.  She would often say, "I can't take it with me." In her retirement, she was the volunteer coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, having served with 8 Days of Hope and working to build homes in disaster relief. She coordinated the gathering of Christmas shoeboxes, with a goal of at least one hundred boxes a year. She donated monthly to Operation Smile, Feeding America, and St. Jude.

A Lover of Life

Sis. Vallrie enjoyed making bulletin boards, reading, and going to the local public library. She loved attending storytelling conventions, fishing, spending time with her nieces and nephews, and traveling with her sister-friends. She enjoyed laughing and taking trips with her daughter/friend, Brenda and going to thrift stores with her longtime friend, Agnes. She was an avid collector of beautiful teapots, model ships, and African-American figurines. She felt very supported and loved by her neighbors and those whom she encountered in her daily activities, often saying, "I've got people." She loved a good ribeye and cheesecake with her "favorite son-in-law and spending time with her retired teacher friends. She looked forward to a good laugh with Mrs. Georgitte or Ms. Kaye and regular phone calls from Christopher and Michelle.  She loved being at home and on any given Saturday, she could be found watching her favorite westerns and gathering her Sunday School supplies. She enjoyed prayer journaling and her meditation time with the Lord.

A Survivor

Sis. Vallrie did not hesitate to tell everyone about how the Lord had delivered her from four different cancers and several heart attacks. She would also share her favorite verses to accompany her testimony. She would say, "This isn't my first rodeo; the Lord has something else for me to do." Sis. Vallrie loved the Lord, her family, her community, and her students. She regularly stated, "I've lived a good life; when it's my time to go, it's just my time to go."

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing . 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Sis. Vallrie leaves to cherish her loving memories, two children, Toni (Ezzard) Mosley of Cincinnati, OH and Ivory P. Vallrie, Jr. of Jennings, LA; one brother, Louis Randolph of Bayou Goula, LA; one grandchild,  Miss Patience Grace Reed of Jennings, LA; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Sis. Vallrie was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Ivory P. Vallrie, Sr; Her in-laws- Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Vallrie; both parents, Clarence and Ethel Bell Johnson Sr; five brothers, Lloyd Bell Sr., Charles Bell Sr., Clarence Johnson Jr., Leonard Johnson, and Larry Johnson; two sisters, Gertie Taylor and Brenda Johnson.

A public visitation will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2021, in St. Paul Baptist Church, 1502 South Main Street in Jennings, LA.  from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.  Face coverings and social distancing are mandatory.  A private funeral for the family due to COVID will be held in the church at 12:00 pm followed by a private burial.   Reverend Pernell R. Trent Sr. will officiate.  The funeral will be live-streamed on the St. Paul Baptist Church Facebook Page.  If you would like, donations can be sent to her favorite charities, which include St. Jude Research Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Operation Christmas Child, Feeding America, and Operation Smile.