Constance C. Oliphant

Constance Lucille Colston Oliphant began her rest, from this life, on December 6, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina surrounded by her extended family.

She entered this life on August 23,1939, also in Charlotte, born to Thelma McKnight and Joseph Earl Colston, Jr. Connie was named in honor of her paternal grandmother, Constance Morrison Colston and her maternal aunt, Lucille McKnight Smith.

With her parents, Connie spent her earliest years in the house where her mother grew up, on the corner of Eighth and Myers Streets and around the corner from the home where her father grew up, on McDowell Street. There, she basks in the love of family that included her paternal grandparents. She also began developing into a “force to content with” while playing with the rough and tumble kids in the neighborhood.

When her father returned from his tour of duty in World War II, the family moved into a new house on Druid Circle. Connie attended the public schools, graduating from West Charlotte High School, [where her father was a teacher and coach], in 1957. Some of her lifelong friends are high school “chums”. During this time, she also bonded with her adopted foster sister Myrtle Colston Martin and 1st cousin, Tommie Nash.

Connie attended Bennett College for Girls, in Greensboro, North Carolina. During her college years, she participated in the famous “Greensboro Sit Ins” of the Civil Rights era. She majored in Physical Education and graduated in 1961.

Connie’s mother encouraged her to become a Physical Therapist, but Connie preferred a more active lifestyle and secured a position as the first black elementary school Physical Education teacher, in the Charlotte Mecklenburg County School System. She also began her early community involvement as a swim instructor and program at the McCory YMCA.

Swimming became one of Connie’s passions and during summers, she spent many hours at the Double Oaks Swimming Pool. There, she began a romantic relationship with the handsome lifeguard, Willie Oliphant. Connie and Willie were married In June 1964, in the Statesville Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Shortly after their marriage, Willie accepted a position with the United States Secret Service, and the couple moved to Baltimore, Maryland where their first child Mark was born. They then moved to Plainsfield, New Jersey, where their second child Kevin was born. Two years later Willie was transferred to Chicago, Illinois. This time, Connie stopped by her parent’s new home in Hyde Park, Charlotte, and delivered their third child Nicole. When that baby was one month old, they, along with Willie’s older son Wayne, joined Willie in Park Forest, Illinois where, Connie’s foster sister had been living for six years.

In 1972, the family returned to Charlotte, eventually building a home in Huntersville where Connie resided for the remainder of her life.

Connie became interested in everything horses when she took her young daughter for riding lessons at the Big M Stable on Statesville Avenue. She also took riding lessons and became an expert, winning prizes in competitions along with her teacher and soul mate, Bobby Martin.

In Charlotte, Connie focused her life on “TEACHING” the community by opening her home to the “Long Creek” neighborhood; teaching in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System; teaching youth and adult swimming at the YMCA and other locations, and coaching the Mallard Creek and West Chalotte H.S. swim teams; teaching arts and crafts for multiple peer groups; feeding the community at the Food Pantry; hosting after-school programs for ‘at-risk’ youth; teaching fitness with her “Silver Sneakers” classes; teaching our community to care for and ride horses; supporting her ”Dallas Cowboys” and teaching LIFE to hundreds of individuals that called her “Mom” or “Grand Ma”

I will mention some of the many that are mourning the loss of this beautiful spirit that is Constance Lucille Colston Oliphant:

Her children: Mark Elliott Oliphant [Claudia], Kevin Earl Oliphant [Angel] and Nicole Evette Oliphant, all of Charlotte; and Jason Brooks [Alisha], Paul Blocker [Jasmine] and Gerri Freeman [George].

Her grandchildren: Brandon Oliphant, Ph D. of Denver, Colorado; Breana Oliphant of Baltimore, Maryland; Jasmine Belton, Javis Belton, Jr., Kendall Oliphant and Kassidy Oliphant all of Charlotte. Extended grandchildren Murvy Dennis, Tyra Belton, Kitia Belton.

Sister: Myrtle Colston Martin [Donald] Brother-In-Law: Augustus Taylor [Lola]

Kimberly Alexander [Claude] and Garrett Nash [Felicia]; God Children: Jackie Faulkner, Dee Faulkner, Lisa Faulkner, Lisa Pittman, Bryan Pittman, Leslie Pittman; and a host of nieces and nephews, and extended “adopted” sons and daughters!

Connie was predeceased by her parents, Thelma and Joseph Earl Colston, Jr.; Husband, Willie Oliphant; Stepson, Wayne Oliphant; Sister-In-Law, Florence Taylor; Cousin, Thomas Nash [Addie]; and Soul Mate, Bobby Martin.

Constance lived her life on her own terms. “She did it her way. Regrets, she may have had a few, but too few to remember.”

May she rest in peace.