Lloyd Cornell Oliver

Lloyd Cornell Oliver, Sr., affectionately known as “Cornell, Pop, Big “O”, & “Unc”, was born
September 13, 1949, in Pittsburgh, PA to Junius & Mattie Oliver both of Crewe, Virginia. He
peacefully transitioned from this earth on Wednesday August 28, 2024.
Cornell grew up on Blackadore Street in the Penn Hills section of Pittsburgh. He was a member
of Blackadore Baptist Church as a youth and later attended New Hope Baptist Church and The
Salvation Army with his family. His family home while growing up, was one of the first custom
built homes on Blackadore Farms brought from the proceeds of Cornell’s parents lucrative black
owned Waste Removal Company in the 1950’s. Junius and Sadie came from Virginia to
Pittsburgh to establish and open one of the first Black owned trucking companies in Pittsburgh.
He attended Penn Hills High School and was a standout Football Player with many college
scholarship offers upon his graduation. Cornell chose to stay home and start his career while also
helping with the family business. He was a hard worker, working with many different employers
including BFI Sanitation, Thrift Drug warehouse, Wally Clark sanitation, & AAA Hauling.
While working these jobs, Cornell continued to work with his father, driving the garbage trucks,
picking up large garbage barrels and dumping them into the back of the truck with one hand,
earning him the nickname of “Barrell Dog”. This strong foundation led Cornell to eventually
establish his own Tri-axle Trucking Company in the early 1980’s-Oliver & Son’s Trucking
Company. One of the few Black owned Tri-axle dump truck companies at that time. Different
variations of this company still exist today being owned by operated by his Children &
Grandchildren at 8054 Bennett Street in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh.
Cornell met his wife of 51 years, Rosalind Oliver (Robinson) in 1965 at Rex-all pharmacy in
Homewood. They fell in love quickly and were married February 9, 1973. That union produced
Five Children-four boys and one girl.
He was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steeler Fan and thoroughly enjoyed putting on his Steeler gear and
waving his Terrible Towel in front of his Big Screen TV every Sunday during Football season.
He was also a Muscle Car enthusiast; he knew how to build a muscle car from scratch and did so
many times in his life starting in his teenage years. Although he owned and raced many sports
cars in his lifetime, he was particularly fond of Corvettes. He and his younger brother Milton
Oliver were two of the founding members of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the United Rays Corvette
Club. This love of fast muscle cars has been passed on to his children and nephews who also own
and race corvettes and other sports cars who continue his legacy and passion.
Cornell was preceded in death by his Parents-Junius & Sadie Oliver, his older brother Eugene
Oliver, and his son Casey C. Oliver. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife Rosalind
Oliver, his 4 children-Lloyd Cornell Oliver, Jr., Walter R. Oliver, Brian M. Oliver, Jenee’ N.
Oliver, Esquire.; his brother-Milton Oliver; his beloved nephews-Sheldon Oliver, Lamont
Tomman, Ronald Diggs, Calvin Wilson; Marcus Oliver; his lovely nieces-Dana Oliver, Shaylnn
Oliver, Melanie Lyons; 17 Grandchildren-Albert, Andre, Shyra, Giselle, Taceri, Tacuri, Myia,
Mckenzie, Dior, Bobbi, Bria, Zemora, Khalil, Maurice, Perris, Caia, Paige; 4 Great
Grandchildren-Veryl, Tremeir, Vionna, Kalani-and a host of cousins, close family & friends.
Cornell was an extraordinary man, a Husband, a Father, Uncle, Grandfather, Entrepreneur, who
loved life and to help others. He became role model to so many young men over the years that
he encountered while helping his Son’s with their businesses at the “Garage’ on Bennett and
Batavia Street in Homewood. He provided an example of how a Man can lead his family, live a
good life financially, be an asset to the community on his own terms.
He was a true “O.G. Boss” whose influence and knowledge helped pave the way for many Black
Entrepreneurs in Pittsburgh. Although God called him home his legacy will never die because of
the countless lives he has touched. While those that love him will forever mourn our loss, we will
celebrate his life and legacy even longer-The True definition of Black Excellence

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