About Fred and Mae Oliver

Through generous donations of the Oliver Family and Friends, the scholarship was revived in 2019 and the name changed to the Oliver Family Memorial Scholarship.

Mr. Oliver served on the AVPRIDE board from 1998 to 2013 while he was Assistant Superintendent with the Fayette County school system. He transitioned on March 1, 2019.

“Fred was wonderful and he was instrumental in so many ways,” said co-founder Dawn Oparah. Whether it was providing board meeting space, computers, reading resources, he never said no including requests for countless letters of support.  “If it could be done, he found a way to do it,” said Mrs. Oparah. “He was all about the kids,” said co-founder Sheila Pace. “Whatever was needed, he found a way to help the children.”

Some of his greatest contributions included his ability to connect AVPRIDE to people, places, and resources so that students received the very best support and ensure success in their education, community, and life. This deep desire extended to the memorial scholarship established in 2002 by Mr. Oliver and his wife, Mae, in honor of their daughter Audra Nicole Oliver (see below).  More than 25 scholarships have been given to Fayette County seniors through this program.

Mae and her husband supported the Oliver Family Memorial Scholarship, initially named in honor of their daughter, Audra Nicole. She was an elementary teacher, a cherished member of AKA sorority, and loved to travel. She transitioned April 19, 2023.

About Audra Nicole Oliver

Although born with sickle cell anemia and facing illness throughout her lifetime, Audra was able to complete high school and go on to post-secondary education at both Floyd College in Rome, GA and Chattahoochee Technological School in Marietta. Audra had a great love for children and inspired many people during her lifetime. She was a mentor to many including a number of young people stricken with sickle cell disease. From her hospital bed, she sold CDs produced by her cousin. When asked how she could do that when she was so ill, she simply said, “I love my little cousin and I want to help her become successful in spreading God’s word through song.”

Audra showed an enormous amount of love and compassion for others. She accomplished a great deal in her lifetime against all odds and surely would have done much more had the debilitating disease not restricted her. Audra exemplified in life the qualities and characteristics of determination, dedication, leadership, service to others, perseverance in the face of obstacles, joy and zest for living, unending faith, and great love for her family and humanity.

Audra Nicole Oliver worked for the Fayette County Board of Education until the critical nature of the disease forced her to quit her job. On February 3, 2002, at the age of 32, Audra Nicole transitioned from this life.

The scholarship was created to honor Audra’s memory and her legacy through the lives of scholarship recipients. Although not an endowed scholarship at this point the goal is to have this scholarship become endowed so that every year scholarships can be awarded to worthy seniors from Fayette County. Since 2002, scholarships in excess of $10,000 in scholarships have been awarded.