Evangelist Olympia Elizabeth Manigan

Evangelist Olympia Elizabeth Manigan of 4521 MarlinAve, Suffolk, VA gained her heavenly wings on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Bowie, Maryland. She and her twin brother were born September 1, 1934 to William China Frierson and Julia Beecher Somerville Frierson. She is the second youngest of seven siblings. She was better known to her siblings and family as “Puzz”. She was the Matriarch of the Somerville family. The last living Somerville of the 4th Generation. Olympia accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She was a dedicated and devoted member of The New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church of Portsmouth, Virginia. Olympia served faithfully in many ministries of service and leadership. She was an original member of the Morning Star Baptist Church, Pinners Point. She served as a member of the church relocation project to High Street. She organized the Ground Breaking and Cornerstone laying Ceremony for the church's current location on High Street. She served as Mother of the Church, Ministerial Staff, Deaconess Ministry President, Vacation Bible School Teacher, Women’s Day Chair, Missionary Ministry President, Sunday School Teacher, Combine Voices Choir member, and a member of the Community Outreach Team. Additionally, she was a servant to The Life Family Worship Center, Huntsville, AL and Macedonia Baptist Church, Bryans Road, MD. Olympia grew up in the Somerville family where she had access to preachers, musicians, printers, educators, and entrepreneurs. It is from that valuable experience that she learned to be responsible and hard working at an early age. She attended Pinners Point Colored School where she served as the Treasurer of her 8th grade class. Olympia attended I. C. Norcom High School and completed her education at PD. Pruden Vocational School in Suffolk, VA. She graduated from Reverend Russell’s School of Evangelism of Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, Norfolk,Va. at the age of 82. Shortly thereafter, she preached her initial sermon and was licensed to preach the Gospel. She was musically inclined with a distinctive opera trained voice. Her favorite songs are Great is Thou Faithfulness and Yes, Jesus Loves Me. Olympia was delighted and humbled to serve as a delegate at Tidewater Baptist Missionary & Education Convention in Norfolk, Va and was given the opportunity to share a few moments with her uncle, Dr. Wendell Clay Somerville, Executive Secretary- Treasurer of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention for 55 years and Aunt Alice. That visit was like greeting royalty. The newspaper clippings of the visit are filed in the family record book. Olympia's first job was at Coney Island Hot Dog Stand and at Fagan's Bar and Grill in Portsmouth, Va.Olympia was a domestic worker for Ms. Sadell in New Jersey. She worked as a cashier at the Shagra-la, Mr. Wilkins C. Bynum, Owner, and Lincoln Street Grocery, Mr. Havery Epps, Owner, both in her hometown of Pughsville. Later, the Mother-Daughter duo, Linda and Olympia worked for Wilco (Williams Oil Company) where she ended her working career. The union of Leon and Olympia began an amazing life journey and love story. Leon Sr was her life partner, best friend, and the love of her life for 58 years. She was the gleam in his eye. The Manigan’s were a 20 year US Air Force family that traveled together. She lived in Chambley, France, Feltwell, England and Altus, Oklahoma before settling down in Suffolk, Virginia. Olympia loved her children dearly. She lived an abundant life with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and in-laws. In order to stay connected with them, she learned to send texts and took her first selfie at the age of eighty-three. Outside of work and serving the Lord, Olympia’s warmth and generosity touched everyone she met. She had a huge heart for making room for you at the family table. The extended family grew tremendously over the years from coming to cookouts, Sunday dinners, Holiday gatherings and anyone her kids bought home. She has hosted meals for visitors from England, Russia, Moldova, Pakistan, Armenia as well as many neighbors. Some of her favorite dishes were potato salad, hot dinner rolls, sweet potato jacks, cabbage, green beans with white potatoes and sweet tea. She enjoyed shopping, volunteering, working her flowerbeds, and traveling as much as possible. She was devoted and committed to serving her civic duty as a City of Suffolk Election Officer, and Pughsville Civic League-Financial Secretary. Olympia took pride and joy as she served in numerous capacities as a volunteer for Maryview Hospital as a Patients Rights Advocate and the Gift Shop Cashier. She also served as a Ministerial Volunteer for the Hampton Roads Regional Jail Prison Ministry, Portsmouth, VA. Olympia had a deep passion for fashion and travel. As a little girl, she would always imagine herself on the cover of fashion magazines. Every day no matter where she was going she was dressed and prepared to be on the magazine cover. She would often say “if you look good you can’t help but feel good”. Her hats became an Iconic Fashion Statement that she loved to wear. As for travel, plane, train, boat, car she was ready to go. She always looked forward to visiting with her Children and Grandchildren. She has traveled internationally to Stuttgart Germany, Venice Italy, Paris France, Bahamas, Israel, Cana, West Bank Cities-Jericho & Bethlehem, Jordan-Petra and numerous US cities. Awaiting Olympia’s arrival in heaven: parents Julia and William; her twin sisters Naomi & Ruth, Elois, Margaret; her brothers, Horace Somerville and William Frierson, Jr.; her Momma Ollie (Olympia Somerville Ballard); Grandson Terrell Manigan; son-in-law Charles Fondren and the love of her life Leon Manigan, Sr. To cherish her memory she leaves her children: Linda Elizabeth Fondren, Huntsville, AL, Marilyn M. Franklin (Christopher), Waldorf, MD, Tara Lee Felton (Timothy), Richmond, VA, Leon Manigan, Jr. (Holly), Huntsville, AL, and Horace Lyle Manigan (Freya), White Plains, MD to cherish her memory. She also leaves to cherish her memory 15 grandchildren: Robin, Philip, Tymika, Terrell(deceased), Priscilla, Garry (Anthony), Tia, Onquah, Faith, Layah, Hope, Leon III, Joshua, DaejaAnn, Sydney. Additionally, she is survived by 13 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren, In-laws: Rosa, Dennice, Lenora and Phillip, the Aldridge Family; Brian, Nincy, Jeremiah, Joshua and Jacob and 7 grand dogs. Her dearest friends, Mary Brown, Barbara Artist, Frances Brookings, Caroline Johnson, Charlene Long, Diann Beard, Antoinette Winslow, and LeVerne Dickens along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

Evangelist Olympia Elizabeth Manigan

September 1, 1934 - May 13, 2026