If this entire edition of en was given over to the life of Doris ‘Doll’ Olyott, there would not be enough space to share how much she loved the Lord and loved people.
Born in 1937 in South Shields, her family soon moved to London. She was evacuated to North Wales, but on her return to London, when she was about eight her father died, leaving eight young children. Taking on three jobs, but with very little income, her mother taught her: ‘The Lord will provide’, and throughout her life she never worried about material provision.
The Lord’s district nurse
In Kenton, London, aged 11, she looked to Christ for salvation, forgiveness of sin and everlasting life. She became head girl at school, and began her first job in Boots. Next, she trained as a nurse at the Royal Free in London. She moved to Glasgow, where she delivered babies in tenement buildings, then returned to London as a district nurse. Throughout, she was known for her love for the Lord and her Christian witness.
In January 1970, she married Stuart, a church pastor. In his beautiful testimony to Doll, at her Thanksgiving Service* at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Mold, North Wales, on 9 May, he took each line of the chorus ‘Two little eyes’ to lead people through Doll’s life and walk with her Saviour. He noted that it was due to her love of the Bible that they met.
Within weeks of being married, the first of eight adopted sons joined the family in Liverpool. In a moving tribute, the second of these sons spoke of the love his mother had for them all, giving them time each day to confidentially share their lives and thoughts with her.
Described as a generous, gracious, gospel lady whose ‘sermons of kindness were preached with her life, and left their mark on you’: even in the care home in the last months of her life she cared for other residents by plumping up their pillows!
In her last minutes, Stuart was clear that the change brought about in her by the Holy Spirit when she was 11 remained a permanent one. She had borne illness and pain, but always with joy that only God can give. To be near her was to be happy and to be near the Lord, with whom she is now, among the ‘shining ones’.
