Catherine Rebecca Ivey

Catherine Rebecca (Becky) Young Ivey was born in Rome, Georgia on April 22, 1918. Becky and her four younger siblings - three sisters and one brother - were raised mostly in Atlanta. During high school, she met the love of her life, James (Jake) Livingston Ivey. They were married in 1939 and spent 67 loving and happy years together. To their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, they represent the epitome of pure, lasting, unconditional love.

Becky loved to read; she looked forward every day to reading her Bible, and she took pleasure each day in reading the newspaper cover to cover. She was not afraid of hard work, whether physical, mental, or emotional. As a young woman, she helped her single mother support her and her four siblings. Becky was active as secretary at Strathmoor Judson Baptist Church in Detroit and kept the books for Jake’s business. She was always willing to pick up a rake, plant a tree, pick a boatload of blackberries. She was a devoted church member, both in Detroit and at Roswell First Baptist, and more importantly, she was the model for many - family, friends, and acquaintances - of Christian love and charity.

She loved God’s beautiful creations and collected them about her: children, flowers, shells, rocks, pictures, music. She was a gifted artist, and a classic beauty. She loved to laugh, and found pleasure in even the simple things, like blackberry cobbler and homemade ice cream. She was soft and mild, but her gentleness came with a quiet and enduring strength that buoyed and protected her family.

Becky was mother to Steve, Lynn, and Jane, a loving mother by marriage to Maryanne, and Nana to nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. She rocked everyone of them to sleep as babies; gathered shells with them on the beach; celebrated their significant milestones: birthdays, graduations, marriages, children, and showered them all with the same unconditional love she shared with Jake.

Becky celebrated her 100th Birthday with her family and friends on April 22, 2018, and went to her Heavenly Home on December 20, 2018.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 3:00 pm in the Chapel at Roswell First Baptist Church, 710 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell, GA 30075