A celebration of Rebecca's life will occur on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Holy Cross Baptist Church
1900 North 63rd Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19151
Viewing: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Service: 10:00 a.m.
We request family and friends who prefer
to send plants or flowers,
to coordinate with one of the
following reliable local florists:..
June's Floral Design: (610) 726-4351
Overhill Flowers: (215 ) 473-1842
Simply Floral: ( 610) 622-7980
Have the florist deliver
your selection
to the church no
later than 8:30 a.m.
the day of the service.
DUE TO A GLITCH IN OUR SYSTEM
PLEASE DISREGARD THE FOLLOWING
NOTATION REGARDING ANY ORDERS
INCLUDING FLOWERS, CANDLES OR
MEMORIAL TREE PLANTINGS
WITH THE TRIBUTE STORE!!!!
THANK YOU!!
Life Story
Rebecca Olivia Cusaac "Liv" was born on May 25, 1931, second child of Ocie and Ethel
Cusaac. Her parents sometimes called her ‘Mut’, but she was named Rebecca after her
paternal grandmother Rebecca Perkins Cusaac Pygatt.
As a child, Olivia had juvenile arthritis, which affected her walking. She loved to play
piano; she took music lessons for years. Her favorite time of year was the spring because
everything was so beautiful and new.
As a young girl of 7, Olivia felt the urging of the Holy Spirit, but was afraid that her
parents wouldn’t believe her. Her belief remained steadfast, and by age 11, she finally
accepted the Lord. From that time until her health no longer allowed, Olivia had been
serving the Lord.
Her service to the Lord began as a young lady as the musician for the Jubilee Choir at
Savannah Grove Baptist Church in Florence South Carolina, and as a member of the
Mutual Aid Society. With that early blessing for playing music and love for the Lord she
sang in choirs all her life.
At the age of 16, while going to school in Florence, she met a woman who thought she
was such a nice and respectful young lady, she wanted her to meet her son. As fate
would have it, one evening in 1947 they met at the Dew Drop Inn and some friends
introduced them. That young man was Willie Kelly whom she married September 22,
1950. They lived in Florence, then Baltimore, finally landing in Philadelphia.
In April 1957, they bought their first and only home at 6018 Spring Street in West
Philadelphia. In September 1962, Olivia joined the Holy Cross Baptist Church which
was just around the corner from their home at 60th and Vine. She raised all of her
children to love the Lord and they all received their Christian foundation at Holy Cross
under the pastorship of Pastor J. H. Beatty.
On July 12, 1970, Willie Kelly, Sr. went on to live with the Lord. Life for her was hard,
but through her faith in GOD, she maintained her family.
On August 18, 1973, she married McIver Willoughby Sr. whom she had known from
Savannah Grove since her childhood. They were blessed with 17 years of marriage and
on August 4, 1992, McIver Willoughby Sr, passed away.
Olivia was a faithful member of the Senior Choir where she served as president, Chair of
the Deaconess Ministry, Floral Club, Missionary Ministry, and eventually, Mother of the
church. In retirement she served on the Women’s Service Committee.
Olivia always worked hard, working many jobs from the laundry to PTC (now SEPTA)
where she was a detective, to more than twenty-five at Sears before retiring. Many in the
family benefitted from the employee discount and the employee store.
Olivia leaves to celebrate her life…
Her pride and joy, her children; Willie Kelly (Pamela), Pastor Louis Kelly (Sheila),
Gregory Kelly (Tanya) and Michelle Kelly-Gumbs (Vincent), Cheryl Willoughby,
McIver Willoughby, Jr. (Dorothy) and Darryl Willoughby.
Her beloved grandchildren, Vincent Willoughby, Allen Willoughby, Daria Willoughby,
Allen Minnick, Andre Hunt, Adia Cobb, Justin Lee, Vincent Gumbs, Jr., William Kelly,
Jordan Kelly, Enam Kelly, Christian Kelly, and Jordan Willoughby.
Her amazing great-grandchildren; JhaNasia, Justin, Eli, Journi, Kennila, Kennedy, Kori,
Remington, Benjamin, Jr., Lennox, Solange, Vincent III, and Skylar.
Sisters Helen McKeither, Gwendolyn Gibbs (Ernest) and Betty McDaniel and brother-in-
law, Harvey Willoughby. A host of nieces, nephews, and friends. A special thank you to Renee Edwards, who was
the only one in the family to get mom to eat!
Spring Street neighbors, we are grateful for you watching over her and keeping a caring
eye out for her. 6018 Spring Street will forever be home to us.
A special thank you to Betty Warsaw, Ms. Mary, Anna Belle Hopson, and Mary Tuck for
befriending and loving on Mom by doing puzzles and sitting under the tree while living
at 56th and Race. Also, thank you, Mother Ella Pearl Downs, for your constant concern
and prayers.
Finally, we are grateful to the amazing team at Saunders House and Main Line Hospice
who cared for our mother, known to them affectionately as “Ms. Rebecca,” with so much
patience and grace.
