Olivia Rodwell Legates Ross

Olivia was born in Henderson, NC on May 19, 1951, to the late Clement A. Rodwell, Jr. and Margaret Woodroof Rodwell. She is survived by her son, B. Eliot Legates, Jr. and wife, Gracie, of Naples, Florida; two brothers, Allen Rodwell and wife Betty, of Glen Allen, VA, and David Rodwell of Staunton, VA.; and two nieces, Melanie Rodwell Hancock of Anderson, SC and Margaret Rodwell Russo and husband, Joe, of Richmond, VA. Olivia was formerly married to Bruce E. LeGates, Sr. of Oxford, NC and J. H. Ross of Raleigh, NC.

Olivia graduated from Henderson High School (class of ‘69), received her B. A. in English and her teaching certificate from NC State University in Raleigh, NC and her Masters in Journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill. She had a passion for educating children and spent many years on faculty at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC where she taught Public Relations and Communications while managing the student newspaper. Additionally, she taught High School English in several local high schools in the Raleigh area and in Sanford. She was an accomplished business writer and also spent time as the editor of numerous magazines and publications.

In her free time, Olivia enjoyed spending time with family at Topsail Beach and the Outer Banks in North Carolina. She also loved animals, especially her two poodles, and enjoyed taking trips to the NC Zoo in Asheboro. Olivia’s home church was Crossroads Church in Lillington, NC where she loved worshiping God, fellowshipping with her friends, and volunteering. She had a big heart and showed compassion for those in distress and never hesitated to lend a helping hand to those in need.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011, at 11:00 am at Crossroads Church, 1301 South Main Street, Lillington, NC 27546. A visitation will be held from 2:00 – 2:45 pm Saturday afternoon at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh; followed by the burial service at Raleigh Memorial Park, at 3:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crossroads Church, PO Box 1177, Lillington, NC 27546. Please designate donations as “In Memory of Olivia R. Ross”. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.MitchellatRMP.com

Please take a moment to share a story, condolences, or to sign the guestbook to the left...

Arrangements under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park, Raleigh, NC.