Born on May 26, 1958 in Crewe, Virginia
Passed on December 29, 2024
Pastor Clyde N. Oliver of Melbourne, Florida went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at the age of 66. He was born in Crewe, Virginia on May 26, 1958 to Douglas Lee Oliver Jr. & Betty Sue Oliver (Jones).
Clyde graduated from Nottoway Senior High School where he was a member of the debate team, DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), and a member of track & field. Following high school, Clyde worked a few jobs, until the Lord asked him, “When are you going to do what I told you to do?” At that point, he quit his job and went to serve in ministry at True Apostolic Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ (now known as the Temple of Judah Ministries) in Richmond, Virginia. Clyde began to work at the church and worked another job as well. During this time, he had begun listening to Kenneth Copeland on the radio, which had a great impact on his life and spiritual walk.
In 1979, the Lord instructed him to move his family from Richmond, Virginia to Fort Worth, Texas, where he served on the staff of Kenneth Copeland Ministries for 11 years as Tape Production Supervisor, Crusade Sales Manager, and Prayer Minister. These foundational years proved to be fertile training ground for hands-on opportunities for mentorship, scriptural principles of faithfulness, and servanthood. Clyde received his formal Bible training in 1980 – 1981 at the Overcoming Faith Bible Training Center in Fort Worth, Texas under Dr. Jerry Savelle. In 1988, Clyde married the love of his life, Marion Johnson, at Grace Temple in Fort Worth, Texas (Pastors Harold and Lou Nichols).
In 1990, Clyde, Marion, Colette and Douglas moved to Melbourne, Florida. Following this transition, Clyde Oliver Ministries was founded and on Easter Sunday, April 15, 2001. Clyde and Marion opened and began pastoring Maranatha Christian Center, at the instruction of the Lord, “Add to what you are doing.”
Since 1990, Pastor Clyde Oliver has left a legacy in the Body of Christ in Central Florida and around the world, through his ministry as a pastor, an evangelist, Bible college teacher, and conference & Camp meeting speaker. In addition to preaching the Gospel throughout the United States since 1990, he also ministered in Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America, Australia, the islands of the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. Countless people around the world have come to love his quote, “God has plans for you and none of them include defeat!”
The emphasis of Pastor Oliver’s ministry has always been centered around developing maturity in the believer. He was licensed and ordained with Eagle Mountain International Church (a.k.a. Kenneth Copeland Ministries) & Faith Christian Fellowship International and was a member of other ministerial affiliations throughout his time in ministry. Pastor Oliver accepted and received the salvation of Jesus Christ at age 5 and walked with the Lord as a faithful servant for 61 years. He preached the Word of God for 50 years, beginning with his first sermon at age 16.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Marion Oliver; his children Colette Harp (Monty), Douglas Oliver and Dominique Vincent; his granddaughters Tenisha Picinich & Tiónna Picinich; his mother Betty Sue Oliver and his siblings Melvin Maurice Oliver (Myriam), Gwendolyn Oliver Kirby (Mark), Dolly Oliver Scruggs (Michael), Kendra Oliver Monroe (Michael), Anita Oliver Johnson (Theodore), Tammi Oliver Jones (Bobby), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and a very special uncle, Clarence Oliver. He was preceded in death by his father Douglas Lee Oliver Jr., and his brother, Douglas Lee Oliver III.
Pastor Clyde Oliver’s homegoing service will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Freedom Christian Center located at 7250 Lake Andrew Drive, Melbourne, Florida. Viewing hours will be 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM, with the service beginning at 1:30 PM. Interment to follow at Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to Clyde Oliver Ministries, in honor of Pastor Oliver’s life and ministry:
Kurt and Elizabeth Cooper
from Sorrento wrote on January 25, 2025:
Pastor Clyde when we lived over in Brevard County, your heart and beautiful smile were always a blessing to our family. You were a true man and friend of God and we can have joy knowing you are with your Savior and friend Jesus Christ. We look forward to seeing you again one day when we stand in the throne room of Heaven praising our Father and King Jesus. Until then we will miss you.
Bradford Cole
from Indian Harbour Beach wrote on January 11, 2025:
Pastor Clyde was a great Man of God, a Man of integrity and a Man who loved people. He was always a phone call away and made you feel like you mattered. He was a great teacher and preacher of the Word of God, and my life is forever changed by his life and ministry. Love you Pastor Clyde, you will be dearly missed and I’ll see you again in heaven.
Nathan & Victoria Cofie
from Tallahassee wrote on January 11, 2025:
Our condolences to the family.
Pastor Steve Coates
from Accokeek wrote on January 11, 2025:
Pastor Oliver you will be greatly miss . Thank you for our conversations
Dolly Scruggs
from Dillwyn, Va wrote on January 11, 2025:
The Bible says, “to train up a child in the way that they should go and when they’re old they won’t depart from it”. Our mother did just that in each an every one of us. I am so honored to have been your sister, Clyde. Keep rejoicing for The Most High my brother, until we meet again! I love you and miss you.. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Irene & John
from Melbourne wrote on January 11, 2025:
Pastor Clyde will be greatly missed great man of God
We will be praying for his family and friends !
No more sickness no more pain walking on the streets of gold brand new body amen
Love Irene /John
Adrienne Blanchard
from Virginia Beach wrote on January 11, 2025:
Love you cousin. You will be missed.
Barbara and Anthony Nabors
from Indialantic, FL wrote on January 11, 2025:
Pastor Clyde Oliver a man after God’s own heart! We met shortly after you arrived in Melbourne. We became fast friends in Jesus and in life! Although you rest in the loving arms of our Lord and Savior, what I will miss the most is that you are not just a phone call away! I know there is no distance in the spirit… until we meet again thy good and faithful servant of our Lord! To Marion and family take comfort in all he accomplished on this earth and all of your precious memories! Rest in the Lord’s eternal peace!
Nathan Cofie
from Tallahassee wrote on January 11, 2025:
Nathan Cofie
Ontario Smalls
from Loganville wrote on January 11, 2025:
I met Pastor Clyde in the year 1994 at Freedom Christian Center. I was an invited guest of someone who knew I was new to the Brevard County area and was looking for a new church.
I arrived and quickly experienced cultural shock sitting In the congregation as Freedom was a predominately white church and I grew up in a predominantly black church in South Carolina.
As I sat there in turmoil, an Angel in the form of Pastor Clyde appears and introduces himself to me saying God makes no mistakes and that he was there to help me in my faith journey and to help me navigate this new environment. He not only spoke those words but invited my wife and I to his home that same day.
I must admit that my faith was warped a tad bit as I thought you had to be poor to be a Christian and I am experiencing the abundance he walked in while walking in Christ’s love-displaying it in private and in public.
On the first day encounter, I remembered asking myself if Clyde was a Prince from Africa or something as he was so Regal and carried himself like the World was his.
After many teaching and mentor moments, I was transferred to another military base in the US but held close his teachings which allowed me to open myself to God’s abundance in every way.
In God’s divine providential way, we were miraculously reconnected as business partners and were able to travel the World together on business trips of which I cherished the opportunity to get to even know him in a even more impactful way than before.
He was extremely observant, thoughtful, kind, smart, witty and so much more.
To the Entire Oliver family, your Clyde was special and impactful in the lives of so many with his teachings, practical wisdom, strong faith, witty sense of humor, his regal posture, his love for all people and his unwavering commitment to the Kingdom Agenda. He loved all of you so deeply and was proud of each of you in an individual way. You would have thought he was the only one who had a Great Family.
Clyde- My family loved you and we are better because you came this way and made the decision to be the Man that you were.
RIP King Oliver you got a Crown to go with your earthly Royal Garments. I will continue to fight and help as many people as I can with the mission that we set out on a few years ago.
The Moore Sisters&Byron
from Fort Worth wrote on January 11, 2025:
Clyde Oliver was like a member of our family. He was
Our "Rock" during the time of loss of Our Father in February,1990, Our Mother in May, 2003, and Our sister Kitty in March, 2017. He always visited and prayed with us when he came back to Fort Worth, Texas. God Bless Our brother Clyde Oliver and may he rest in peace in Jesus' name. Amen
Winston Oliver
from Chester Va 23831 wrote on January 10, 2025:
To the family and children of my cousin clyde. we as a family was proud to have a man of god and a great leader of the oliver family. He may be gone to the arms of the savior, but he will never be forgotten.He finished his race down here.my prayers are with you all, peace
Sareda Love
from Crewe wrote on January 10, 2025:
Every thought and memory of Clyde brings happiness, joy, and laughter. From childhood to adulthood it was all good times. Clyde will be surely missed but Forever Loved and never forgotten.💕🙏🙌
Arlene Lewis Robertson
from Crewe wrote on January 10, 2025:
The Lord is still on the throne.
Pastor, Elnora Miller
from Rice, Virginia wrote on January 10, 2025:
Clyde, was a Warrior of Faith, He ran the race well. He will forever be in our heart, a devoted man full of inspiration, and love for people. He will be miss from this earth, but I can go where he is; that place is heaven where we all will see him again
Ontario and Chequetta Smalls
from Loganville, Georgia wrote on January 10, 2025:
Ms. Marion - - Ontario and I don't have enough words to express what Pastor Clyde (as we've always affectionately called him) and your family has meant to us since meeting at Freedom Christian Center back in 1994. Your children were small, and even then, you took a young couple under your wings to nurture and minister to in more ways than one. Even then, you showed us what black excellence and Kingdom living were all about.
We didn't know that God would reconnect us years later through Kingdom business. That we would see the beauty of God's world together and create memories that are priceless. Pastor Oliver's father figure ways and unselfish nature to share his wisdom of God's blessings was inspirational in helping our friends, family members, and business associates to grow and reap abundantly through the principles of "seed time and harvest time." Thank you for sharing him with us for so
many years.
If he was here today, you know I would be laughing at EVERY single joke he tells despite you shaking your head at us.🤭 Back when, his light was refreshing for a young, saved military couple who had never experienced a pastor who could be funny, real, and still honored the Lord wholeheartedly as he did. A few weeks back, telling jokes as he lay fighting for his life with little strength showed us what warriors do!! Thank you for letting it be okay. But more importantly, thank you and your beautiful family for allowing God to use him.
Rest on, great man of God! We love you.
Michael & Dianne Thompson
from Melbourne wrote on January 10, 2025:
Pastor Clyde will always be in our hearts as a precious man of God. His love and dependence on God’s word is a foundation that we have seen through the years. He has been kind and generous to us. He is now enjoying everything he taught and truly believed. Love to Marion and family.
Bessie C. Oliver
from Crewe wrote on January 10, 2025:
Cousin Clyde: You have fought the good fight and have been given your heavenly reward
Our family,your classmates and friends will miss you. Live you
Pastor Mose Whitfield
from Calhoun, GA. wrote on January 9, 2025:
We are all sorry to see him go.But God controls all our
time. He left us here to keep the work going. Let's work to
do half of what pastor Oliver has done. We will all miss
Him but let's keep this great work going. God continually bless His family as they go through this difficult time.
Rev. Dr.Elnora Miller
from Rice Virginia wrote on January 9, 2025:
“ Clyde, was one of a kind, thank God for using him to inspire so many other people. Only God can fill this empty void in the family. He always came back to Crewe , to visit the family church and loved ones. He was a great inspiration to the family, and friends.
Born on May 26, 1958 in Crewe, Virginia