DATE: Monday, April 7, 1997                 TAG: 9704070001

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   26 lines

OLIVER J. DOWNS SR.

Oliver Johnson Downs Sr., 86, of the 1100 block of Edgewood Ave., died April 5, 1997.

Born in Chocowinity, N.C., he was a bridge tender for the City of Chesapeake and the widower of Beulah Mae Hill Downs. He was a member of Chesapeake First Pentecostal Holiness Church and the Tidewater Gospel Music Association. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.

Survivors include three sons, Rohmie O. Downs of Wardensville, W.Va., Harold R. Downs of Chesapeake, Jerry H. Downs of Portsmouth; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Oliver J. Downs Jr.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Graham Funeral Home, South Norfolk Chapel, by the Rev. Hans Hess. A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Oakdale Cemetery, Washington, N.C. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 p.m. today and at 838 Dorcas Ave., Princeton Halls, Chesapeake, at all other times. ILLUSTRATION: Photo KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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