Olive Osborne

Dearest Olive Osbourne, called “Centie” by her family, was born to Franklin and Wilhelmina Osbourne on April 7th, 1926, in Cornwall Barracks, Portland Jamaica, West Indies. Olive Osborne died March 20th, 2025 in Ocala, Florida. Olive was one of eight children, six of which preceded her in death.  Their names are Oliver Osbourne, Tallis Louise Osbourne-Fuller, Violet Fisher-Harris, Lucille Osborne-Reid, Gladys Emilinda Osbourne-Clark, Myrit Osbourne-White.  Her parents, and her siblings listed earlier all preceded her in death, except her youngest brother Lenox Osbourne, “Pappies Len,” as she so lovingly called him. 

Olive Osbourne married Eric P. Osborne.  They lived together as man and wife for 48 years until his death, 34 years before her, on March 19, 1991, in Plantation, Florida. Together Olive and Eric Osborne produced 12 children, as well as raised two of their siblings’ children and grand-children.  The names of their children are: Delray Osborne, Daswell Osborne, Jean Osborne-Marcus, Tyrone Osborne, Carol Osborne-Ogbourne, Fitzgerald Osborne, Edson Osborne, Pauline Osborne, Anton Osborne, Sheila Osborne-Simon, Lorna Osborne and Arton Mark Osborne.  Henso Osborne and Kenis Osborne, the children of the marriage of Eric’s brother Everard Osborne and Lucille Osborne, Olive’s sister.  All of the following preceded Olive in death: Henso Osborne, Kenis Osborne, Fitzgerald Osborne, Sheila-Simon Osborne and Delroy Osborne. 

Olive/Centie/Mama/Grandma, is also survived by 43 grand-children, 27 great grand-children, innumerable nieces and nephews. She is also survived by innumerable friends and Christian Brothers and Sisters, who made her almost 99 years on this earth a joy. She loved you all. 

In the Bible, Sarah called her husband Abraham, Lord.  In their lives together as man and wife, Olive only called her husband Brother Eric.  To be specific, she called him in her Portlander Brogue, “Breda Eric.”  He, so lovingly called her Centie.  When asked why she called him Brother?  She said, “Sometimes, the husband part of him may have done something to upset me.  When I call him Brother, I remember that no matter how angry I am, he is my Christian Brother first.  So, I must treat him well.”  

Known by her parents for her responsible behavior, Centie was sent to visit an older relative, God Sis, as she called her, in Port Antonio, Jamaica.  It was on the Memorial of Christ’s Death, when 8-year-old Centie saw a man carrying a covered waiter. Now Centie, the artist, loved a beautiful package.  So, she asked God Sis, “Who was that man, and what does he have in his hand?”  God Sis said, “That is your cousin Clarence Searchwell.  He is a Millennial Dawner.  This is the name the Bible Students were known by in Jamaica before the name Jehovah’s Witnesses was adopted in 1935. “He is carrying the sacraments for The Lord’s Evening Meal,” God Sis said. 

Centie did not attend the Memorial of Christ’s Death or Lord’s Evening Meal that night.  However, she has attended the Memorial of Christ’s Death/Lord’s Evening Meal every year for about 87 years.  Two or three of those Memorials were before Clarence Searchwell baptized 101new Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Rio Grande River in Cornwall Barracks, Jamaica on January 1, 1940. Included among those baptized that day were Olive Osbourne, Eric Osborne, the man who brought Jehovah’s way to Olive’s family, Franklin and Wilhelmina Osbourne, Franklin’s mother Matilda Markham-Baily, Everard and Magnus Osborne, Herbert and Margret Henry.  After meeting religious persecution in school, Olive “Centie” Osborne, rather than completing her formal education, answered the invitation from Margaret Henry to join her and others, in the full-time ministry as a Regular Pioneer.  In these early years of World War II, some of these Regular Pioneers, Herbert and Margaret Henry, Carmen Wheeler-Frazier, Bonnie Wheeler-Champagnie, Franklin Osbourne, Eric and Magnus Osborne and Olive Osbourne, worked tirelessly in rural Jamaica, on varying mountains, to spread the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom.  The young sisters Carmen and Bonnie Wheeler actually assisted God’s anointed even in conducting the Congregation Watchtower Study. Centie assisted them. 

When Eric Osborne died, his Brother Magnus Osborne said this to one of his nieces, Eric and Olive’s daughter regarding the legacy of Eric and Olive’s children, “Your legacy is not of money or material things, but a spiritual legacy, one of service to Jehovah.”  He further said this of his Sister-in-Law, Olive “Centie” Osborne.  “She is the capable wife described at Proverbs 31:10-31:” 

 “A capable wife who can find her? Her value is far more than corals.  In her the heart of her owner has put trust, and there is no gain lacking. She has rewarded him with good, and not bad, all the days of her life.  She has sought wool and linen, and she works at whatever is the delight of her hands.  She has proved to be like the ships of a merchant.  From far away she brings her food.  She also gets up while it is still night, and gives food to her household and the prescribed portions to her young women.  She has considered a field and proceeded to obtain it; from the fruitage of her hands she has planted a vineyard. She has girded her hips with strength, and she invigorated her arms.  She has sensed that her trading is good, her lamp does not go out at night.  Her hand she has thrust out to the distaff, and her own hands take hold of the spindle.  Her palm she has stretched out to the afflicted one, and her hand she has thrust out to the poor one.  She does not fear for her household because of the snow, for all her household are clothed with double garments.  Coverlets she has made for herself.  Her clothing is of linen and wool dyed reddish purple. Her owner is someone known in the gates, when he sits down with the older men of the land.  She has made even undergarments and proceeded to sell them, and belts she has given to the tradesmen.  Strength and splendor are her clothing, and she laughs at a future day.  Her mouth she has opened in wisdom and the law of loving-kindness is upon her tongue.  She is watching over the goings on of her household, and the bread of laziness she does not eat.  Her sons have risen up and pronounced her happy; her owner rises up, and praises her.  There are many daughters that have shown capableness, you—you have ascended above them all.  Charm may be false and prettiness may be vain; but the woman that fears Jehovah is the one that procures praise for herself. Give her the fruitage of her hands, and let her works praise her even in the gates.” 

Family and friends are invited to follow livestream:

Visitation:  4-6 p.m., Friday, April 11, 2025 

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/f25049374825135

Memorial Service:  1:00 p.m., Sunday April 13, 2025 

Zoom i.d.: 893-8675-6129, Password: sss1914