17 Apr On This Day in UB History: April 17 (Olive Weaver)
On April 17, 1948, the 24-year-old Olive Weaver began the first of what would become five terms as a missionary in Sierra Leone. She serve continuously until 1968.
Olive, like several other missionaries over the years, including Eula Eby, Ruth Benner, and Shirley Fretz, came out of the Grace UB church in Sherkston, Ontario.
Olive spent her first four terms, 1948-1963, teaching at the Minnie Mull School for Girls in Bonthe. She moved to Bumpe for the fifth term to serve at the girls’ school.
As with other missionaries, Olive’s duties went well beyond her “official” assignment. She helped lead services in villages, cared for babies and children, and was involved with starting some of the UB churches in the Freetown area.
Back in Ontario, Olive taught elementary school in Fort Erie. She later married Tom Rickersey, an Australian. Tom passed away in 1996, leaving behind four children and ten grandchildren.
Olive Weaver Rickersey, 82, passed away July 6, 2007.
Siaka Koroma
Posted at 02:28h, 25 AprilI met Olive in the later 80’s right through the early 90’s in Mattru Jong. She was a wonderful person and a family friend. She is by far the best teacher I ever had! I speak fluent english today in almost any conversation because of her. I am saddened to have learnt of her death but I’m grateful I met her and she touched me and my family like many others. I truly would have loved to meet her again but sadly, she passed on. Should you have any contact of any family member of her, please reach out.
Chris Hall
Posted at 20:50h, 08 AprilMiss Weaver was my grade 4 teacher for the 1973-74 school year at General Vanier School in Fort Erie. She was the best teacher I ever had. She had the patience of a saint with me. She spent every night after school teaching me multiplication tables, which I had great difficulty with. She got me through that hurdle. I will never forget her.