Lillian Viola Poitier worked as an industrial technician and certified nurse’s aide, but it was her work as the driver of “bus 511” that brought her the most joy.
As a driver for the Broward County Schools Transportation Department, she was able to “touch young people’s lives,” becoming a mother figure to many and encouraging them to make right choices and to get an education.
Poitier died of natural causes on Oct. 12 at the age of 86. Her son, Lohman, said that an elaborate funeral service that lasted for five hours was held on Oct. 17 at The Cathedral Church of God, where Poitier was a very involved member.
At Cathedral, she participated as Pastor of Church of God’s 4 Points Mission, and was a member of the International Mission, Evangelism Team, Ladies Ministries Board, Senior Choir member, Women’s Ministry, Sunday School Superintendent, Usher Board, Prison Ministry and Missionary to Cat Island, Bahamas. Also, she was one of the founding members of the “We Care” committee, which helped to ensure that the residents of the Palms Senior Citizen Residence of Deerfield Beach could participate in church services by taking the service to them.
Poitier was also a licensed minister with the Church of God. She attended the Moody Bible Institute and Florida Bible Institute. Her outreach included a prison ministry.
Born on Dec. 3, 1923 in Deerfield Beach, Poitier was the third of 14 children. Rahming graduated from Dillard Senior High School, Fort Lauderdale.
Rahming married the late John Dy’Anza Rahming in 1944. They were the parents of two sets of twins: Patricia and Lutricia and Linwood and Lohman; and Alma, Althea, Valgene and Thais.
“I appreciate the goodness of the Lord. He was my first passenger in the morning to embark and the last one to disembark. For without Him, I would not have accomplished any of my goals in life,” the funeral program recalled her as saying.
Photo: Lillian Viola Poitier Rahming
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