Ollie Mae Lyons

Ollie Mae Lyons (Brown), 89, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on July 4, 2025, surrounded by her loving family in Palm Bay, Florida. Born on November 13, 1935 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Ollie lived a remarkable life filled with love, service, and joy that touched all who knew her.

As the eldest of five children born to Ollie B. and Roberta (Wood) Brown, Ollie grew up alongside her sisters Joyce, Debra, and Silvie Jean, and her brother Bill. On September 7, 1957, she married the love of her life, James Edward Lyons of Camden, South Carolina. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, family, and community. The couple moved from North Carolina to Melbourne, Florida, in 1959, later residing in Winter Haven before returning to Brevard County in 1985.

Ollie was a devoted mother to her son James Edward Lyons Jr., and daughter Katherine Lyons Stickels, and a cherished grandmother to Jennifer, Ashley, Nicole, Jacob, Katie, and Connor. Her great-grandchildren Payton, Jazmine, and Grayson, brought her immense joy in her later years. Ollie was preceded in death by her beloved husband Jim; her sisters Joyce and Silvie Jean and her parents.

Her professional career spanned over 25 years as a mediator and coordinator for the Brevard County Civil Mediation Program, where she specialized in civil court cases, including landlord/tenant disputes, HOA matters, and divorce mediation. Certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Court-Appointed Mediator from 1997 to 2022, she also served as a Certified Arbitrator and Assistant Mediation Trainer at the Dispute Resolution Center. Ollie's leadership in developing the Brevard County Civil Mediation Program earned her the Award for Outstanding Professionalism, Devotion, and Leadership in 2013, among other accolades, including the Brevard County Bar Association's Annual Non-Lawyer Professionalism Award in 2010 and the Significant Impact to the Citizens of Brevard County Award in 2004.

Ollie was a passionate volunteer, serving as President of the Women's Club of Winter Haven, Vice President of the Xi Gamma Phi sorority, and Chairman of the March of Dimes. She also contributed to the Palm Bay Foreclosure & Affordable Housing Community Development Advisory Board and presented at the Dispute Resolution Center Annual Conference for Mediators and Arbitrators. Her dedication to mentoring, organizing workshops, and promoting mediation education left an indelible mark on the community.

Ollie's legacy is one of love, resilience, and selflessness. She cherished her 46 joyful years with Jim and the countless moments spent with her family and friends. She will be dearly missed but forever remembered as a woman who lived with purpose and radiated love. Her spirit will live on in the hearts of those she touched with her kindness and generosity.