Obituary

Ollie Lamar Prater

Ollie Lamar Prater was born on April 17, 1955, the fourth of six children to Ollie Dean and Willie Mae (Borden) Prater in Sylacauga, AL. Affectionally known as "Sugarman" and Lamar by those who knew him best and loved him most, he was reared in the small community of Walco around the values of family and church.

He spent most of his childhood with his sisters and brother and their large extended family on both sides, including on Thomas Hill and at the neighborhood pool, where he became an excellent swimmer, and later a lifeguard. He also loved and played football at Sylacauga High School. There he met the love of his life, Karen Howard, and they became inseparable. He enjoyed the bright lights of Friday Night Football and had dreams of becoming a radio disc jockey. Following graduation in 1973, he went on to Alabama State University, but decided it wasn't quite for him.

By this time, he'd started to dream of the big city lights. Ollie was born during a time of segregation and would sometimes recount the stories of his childhood. It's part of what drove him to migrate North to Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. He convinced Karen that the big city was the place to be and they married on July 4, 1976 in what was a must attend event in Walco. For their honeymoon they hit the road, driving to D.C., joining his older sister Sandra in building a life in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Ten months later they welcomed their daughter Crystal into the world, and a family of three that was together through the storms and rainbows of life was complete. Like many people who headed North, Ollie worked different jobs to make a way, including at Baker's shoe store and at Marriott. He found his niche when he joined Bergmann's Cleaners; using the charisma of a radio talent to charm clients, he became an award-winning route salesman at the company.

Ollie loved living in and around the Nation's Capital. He enjoyed activities on the Potomac River and all of the sports action, including the Bullets championship, Orioles and Nats baseball and of course, football, where he had his reasons for rooting ardently for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After more than 30 years at Bergmann's he retired in January 2022. It was not only time to say goodbye to his job, but to the DMV (DC, MD, VA). He and Karen headed South to Montgomery, AL later that year, while Crystal packed up and moved only two hours away to Atlanta. He spent his final days busily getting reacquainted with Alabama and enjoying his beautiful new home.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Valerie, Sandra and Willa Dean. Ollie is survived by his loving family, including his wife Karen (Howard), daughter Crystal, brother Donnell (Marie), sister Danita Pearl (Cedric), and niece Shanice Adams, as well as a host of extended relatives and lifelong friends.

Mr. Ollie Lamar Prater, a resident of Montgomery, AL., passed away on July 25, 2024. A funeral service will be held Monday, August 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Ross-Clayton Funeral Home. A viewing will be held at the chapel from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.