MOTHER ARLENE VIOLA BIVENS WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 17, 1922 IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, TO NATHANIEL LINCOLN WOOD AND GENEVA EVELYN WOOD. SHE WAS MARRIED TO JOHN PAUL BIVENS SR., MAY 8, 1940. TO THIS UNION WAS BORN TWO SONS ALPHONZO NATHANIEL BIVENS, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON JOHN PAUL BIVENS II (KAY) AND ONE DAUGHTER DENINE ELIZABETH BIVENS, BOTH FROM SPOKANE.
MOTHER BIVENS WAS A RESIDENT OF SPOKANE FOR 67 YEARS. MOTHER BIVENS WAS ALSO ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, WHICH WAS STARTED BY ELDER TAYLOR IN 1948, FOLLOWED BY ELDER JONES, ELDER C DANIELS WHO BECAME PASTOR OF THE MISSION CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST, ELDER W.D. HAYNES SUCCEEDED ELDER DANIELS. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ELDER W.D. HAYNES PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED ON 5TH AVE AND SHERMAN ST AND THE CHURCH WAS NAMED LITTLE CHAPEL CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST. AFTER ELDER W. D HAYNES LEFT, THE JURISDICTIONAL BISHOP OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON APPOINTED ELDER T. J KINLOW THE PASTOR OF LITTLE CHAPEL CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST, AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PASTOR T.J. KINLOW THE MEMBERSHIP GREW AND THE CHURCH WAS RENAMED HOLY TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST. MOTHER BIVENS WAS A FAITHFUL MEMBER DURING THIS TIME UNDER THE PASTORSHIP OF ELDER W. G GRAHAM, ANDHER CURRENT PASTOR ELDER E.D. KINLOW.
FOR MANY YEARS MOTHER BIVENS WAS THE YOUNG WOMEN CHRISTIAN COUNCIL (YWCC) PRESIDENT. WE WOULD OFTEN MEET IN HER LOVELY HOME, OR CHURCH, WHERE WE WOULD STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER AND WHEN WE MET IN HER HOME SHE WOULD SERVE US A DELICIOUS MEAL. MOTHER BIVENS WAS A PRAYER WARRIOR ALWAYS PRAYING FOR OTHERS, SHE WAS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW A MOTHER AND WIFE SHOULD BE. SHE WAS ALSO AN EXCELLENT COOK, BAKER, HOSTESS, SEAMSTRESS, AND CROCHETER. MOTHER BIVENS WAS AN EXAMPLE OF A CHRISTIAN WOMAN WHO LOVED THE LORD AND ALL PEOPLE.
MOTHER BIVENS LEAVES TO CHERISH HER MEMORY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SONS ALPHONZO NATHANIEL BIVENS OF SEATTLE, WA, JOHN PAUL BIVENS (KAY), DAUGHTER DENINE ELIZABETH BIVENS BOTH OF SPOKANE, WA. GRANDCHILDREN, JOHN PAUL BIVENS II (AKA: IAN), JOHN AARON BIVENS, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, JASMYNE BIVENS, MALCOLM I BIVENS, ELIJAH CHARLES STEVENS-BIVENS, JAIMEN AARON BIVENS, TREYSON MALIK BIVENS, DEVANAE S BIVENS, JERNIE GOOCH. HOST OF NEICES AND NEPHEW. SHE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH HUSBAND JOHN PAUL BIVENS SR, FATHER NATHANIEL LINCOLN WOOD, MOTHER GENEVA EVELYN WOOD (BROCK), BROTHER ELDER O.D. HILL, SISTERS JEAN FITZHUGH, BEATRICE WOOD, MILDRED JONES, THELMA INEZ WOOD, DEAR FRIEND MARGARET SMITH. FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD MONDAY JULY 30, 2018 AT 12-NOON AT BALL & DODD FUNERAL HOME WITH INTERMENT TO FOLLOW AT FAIRMOUNT MEMORIAL PARK.
