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The Heavens smiled as twin brothers, JD Oliver, Jr. and AD Oliver brought joy to their parents, JD Oliver, Sr. and Corrie Lee Irvin Oliver, when they were born on June 10, 1938, in Ledbetter, Texas. The oldest of six siblings, the twins were extremely close and nicknamed themselves Baby and Buh, which they were fondly called during their childhood. The twins were inseparable and lived next door to each other for over 40 years.

JD and AD both confessed their faith in God at an early age, were baptized together and became members of Antioch Baptist Church in Ledbetter, where Rev. Lucius Hennigan was the pastor. Wherever he went, whether pursuing educational or career opportunities, JD always sought a church home. Upon moving to Houston in 1969, he and AD became a member of the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. William A. Lawson. JD remained a member for 54 years until his death. Although not able to attend in his later years, he always remained connected virtually. He found joy in serving the Lord while serving others.

JD grew up in the Ledbetter community and attended Antioch Common Elementary School. Later his family moved to Dime Box, Texas where he attended and graduated from Fairview High School. He then attended Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas and graduated with a degree in Industrial Education and Mathematics. After graduation in 1961, JD followed his calling, teaching math at Neal Junior High and E.A. Kemp High School, both in Bryan, Texas. A love for education and a thirst for continuous learning led JD and his twin to attend National Science Foundation math and science summer institutes at Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies and at such prestigious universities as Princeton and the University of Wisconsin. The summer institutes led JD to leave the public school sector and he and his twin brother began teaching at the college level, first at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, then at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After a few years, the twins enrolled in a special math and computer science program at East Texas State University at Commerce learning COBOL, FORTRAN and Assembly Languages. While at East Texas State they learned that NASA was seeking to diversify its workforce. JD and AD saw an opportunity to work in a corporate environment. Both were recruited and hired at Lockheed Electronics Corporation in Houston, Texas in 1969 as scientific programmers.

In October of 1969, while standing outside Wheeler Ave. Baptist after service, JD was introduced by Sarah Gamble Trotty to an energetic young lady named Carolyne Bradley. Mesmerized by her smile, Carolyne became the love of his life. They were married in September of 1970. To this union, God blessed them with one son whom they proudly named Jay Bradley Oliver.

JDs work as a scientific programmer for Lockheed was rewarding. He enjoyed being a part of the team programming space shuttles for flight, and never failed to miss a launch. In 1979, he joined the Singer-Link team providing software programming and simulation for space shuttles. He was a member of the ascent team and did testing of the F-16 flight control navigation panel. Although the work in the space industry was challenging and rewarding, JD still had the urge to teach, so in the fall of 1982, he left the space industry and began his teaching at his alma mater, Prairie View A&M University. A major part of his legacy was fulfilled when he was called to design a computer science program to meet a federal mandate. Ten years later, that program became the first accredited computer science program in the Texas A&M system.

His dedication and commitment to build the computer science program led JD to grow the program to which he became the department head. He thoroughly enjoyed his work at the university, recruiting students, building programs and corporate relations so students graduating from the computer science department at Prairie View would have a bright future.

In 2009, JD was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and learned that his twin brother, AD, had been diagnosed with the same disease a year earlier. Although he remained dedicated to his work at the university, JD retired in 2014 after 32 years.

Although retired, JD never relinquished his desire to impact mankind. While struggling through the many challenges of Parkinsons, JD successfully wrote and published his memoirs in a book entitled A Heart of Giving. He fulfilled his desire to tell his lifes story so that others may be encouraged to remain true to their dreams.

After battling Parkinsons for 14 years, early Sunday morning, October 22, 2023, the Lord called JD home. He joins those family members who have preceded him in death: Parents, JD Oliver, Sr., and Corrie Lee Irvin Oliver; Aunt, Callie Wilma Oliver; Twin brother, AD Oliver; Sisters, Catherine Oliver and Mary Frances Simon; Brother Earl Oliver and Sister-in-law Henrine Oliver.

JD leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife of 53 years, Carolyne Bradley Oliver; a dedicated and loving son, Jay Bradley Oliver; sister, Gladys Oliver Clemons (Eddie Lee); sister-in-law, Helen Oliver (widow of AD); and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, special friends (Kirk Paul and Elnora Flewellen), cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 11 am at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston, and Friday, November 3, 2023 at 1pm at Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery in Ledbetter.

Read more:

J.D. Oliver - Lexington Leader