Obituary of Persilla Toliver

The sun rose on the life of Mrs. Persilla Toliver on August 30, 1951 in Hemingway, South Carolina when she was born to Ollie Eaddy and Mae Lewis. A bit of a tomboy, she was always playing rough housing with her cousin. She loved eating crab at family gatherings. Educated in the public school system, Persilla attended Paul Lawrence High School and then graduated from Dunbar High School in Baltimore, Maryland in 1969. She continued her education, studying at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado. Persilla proudly served her country in the United States Army and then the Air Force until 1981. She was stationed at Okinawa, Japan, Germany and many places in the States. Her job in the military was Medical Records Specialist. She was awarded a medal for rifle Sharp Shooter. Persilla ended her active duty with an Honorable Discharge from the Air Force and a grateful nation. On November 9, 1984, Persilla was united in marriage with James Alfred Toliver in Denver, Colorado. He remembers the love they shared. "It was a very adventurous marriage." She was the loving mother of Tierekka and Travon, but she was also a mother to James II, Sean, Nicole, Kimbra, Sandy and Crystal. The children remember her warm smile, words of encouragement, corny sense of humor, way of always keeping it real, and expressing her love. Her many grandchildren and great grandchildren remember their "Bamma", "Nana" or "Grandma" cooking for them, doing without so they could have what they needed, her favorite song, "Talk Dirty To Me" and her helping others in need. A woman of faith, Persilla was a member of Cleaves Memorial CME Church. She was also a daughter of the Elks Galaxie Temple No. 1131. A Medical Records Specialist by profession, after her military service, she was employed with Denver Health Center in the Gates Medical Center in the position of Administrative Assistant. In her free time, Persilla enjoyed family and friends, music, dancing and cooking. Her best friends, Cheterria Harris and Tina Moore knew she was always there for them when they needed to talk and they appreciated her loyalty. Her love, kindness, generosity and sense of humor will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to share a part of this lovely woman's life. To know Persilla was to love her. The sun set on the life of Mrs. Persilla Toliver on July 8, 2014 when the Lord called her home to eternal rest. She is preceded in death by her father. Those left to cherish her memory include her loving husband, James A. Toliver, Sr. of Denver, CO; sons, Travon (Patrice) Toliver, James Toliver II, Sean Hawkins, all of Denver, CO and Tierekka Walker of Philadelphia, PA; daughters, Nicole Woods, Crystal Henry, both of Aurora, CO, Kimbra Slaughter and Sandy Austin, both of Denver, CO; mother, Mae Lewis of Hemingway, SC; sister, Cathy Lewis of Hemingway, SC; eighteen grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Rest in peace...Persilla