James Leroy Ivey, affectionately called “Jim,” was born at home on May 9, 1928, near Rosemary Corner in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, where he spent his early childhood. Jim was the third of nine children born to the Reverend Ernest Lee Ivey, Sr., a second-generation Baptist minister, and Mrs. Florence Corle Wilkins Ivey. Jim had one elder sister, Queen Elizabeth (“Queenie”) and an elder brother, Jeremiah (“Jerry”). Following Jim were Bessie Marie (“Maria”), Ernest, Jr. (“June”), John (“Booke”), Mark Willie (who died in infancy), Vivian (“Yate”), and finally, Swanson Crusoe (“Tommy”). Jim enjoyed close, lifelong relationships with each of his siblings.

His father insisted that religious and spiritual training be part of the family’s life. Jim’s mother took the children to Quankey Baptist Church while her husband preached at other churches. At the age of ten, Jim was baptized at Quankey. When he was eleven, however, his father moved the family to the country to attempt farming. This devastated Jim, who did not want to leave his friends, church, and school, where he first played basketball and softball. After the move, the Ivey family attended Hawkins Chapel Church and Carter’s Chapel Baptist Church (both founded by family), and Jim studied at Edgewood Elementary School. In addition to his church and family, Jim cared deeply about his education. He graduated from the John Armstrong Chaloner School in 1947.

After commencement, he left Roanoke Rapids for good to study pharmacy at Howard University in Washington, DC. (He later earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Upper Iowa University in 1981 and a Master of Business Administration degree in 1988 from the University of Wisconsin.) When Jim moved to Washington, he was welcomed into the home of his father’s cousin, the Reverend M. Cecil Mills, Sr., founder and pastor of Canaan Baptist Church. The church was in its infancy when Jim moved in with the Mills family and became a church member, but he continued to worship at Canaan until his death.

Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He served in Korea and in Japan during the conflict. He separated from active duty as a Sergeant but remained a Reservist until 1957. After his discharge, Jim began his career with the U.S. Department of Defense as a Physical Scientist and Cartographer. Over the years, he held several positions before retiring from the Department in 1985 as Chief of the Classification and Release Division of the Defense Mapping Agency.

Jim married Lillian C. Smith on August 10, 1951, at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. Their union brought two brilliant daughters, Sherone (“Ronnie”) and Cassandra (“Sandy”). Ronnie and Sandy went on to build very successful lives of their own with the love and encouragement of their parents. Jim and Lillian eventually divorced; however, the family remained in accord until Lillian’s death in 2010. Sadly, Sandy predeceased her father in 2005, but she is survived by her children, Lory Ivey Alexander and Cameron Alexander.

On August 24, 1974, Jim married Carrie Hamilton Ricks. Together, Jim and Carrie built a beautiful life that centered their faith in God and their commitment to their family, while nurturing each other’s creative passions and traveling the world. Carrie and Jim remained devoted to one another until Jim’s last breath.

Jim believed life was meant to be lived, and he remained active throughout his own. After his retirement, he embarked on a second career by founding the Prince Hall Family Federal Credit Union, where he served as its manager and director until 1999. He served on the Boards of Directors of the Defense Mapping Federal Credit Union (highest title held: President), the DC Teachers Federal Credit Union (Chairman), Metropolitan Area Credit Union Management Association (President), and HTC Speakers Club (President). One of the most important activities in Jim’s life was his masonic brotherhood. He was a United Supreme Council 33rd Degree Mason who served in many roles in the fraternity, including Worshipful Master and Past Master of the Charles Datcher Lodge No. 15, as well as the Assistant Grand Secretary and Right Worshipful Grand Trustee Emeritus of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of DC. In 1998, he received the prestigious Hendershott Medal for his contributions to the brotherhood.

Jim was an active member of many other organizations, including Omega Chi Delta Fraternity, the Laymen’s League of the Lott Carey Foreign Missions Convention, the DC Credit Union League, Mt. Pleasant ITC Club, the Bachelor-Benedict Club, the NAACP, and Toastmasters International. An avid reader like his mother Florence, Jim passed his love of books and learning to his children and grandchildren and took every opportunity to absorb new information. Jim was also passionate about his family, physical fitness, photography, and world travel, but perhaps most of all, the Lord and his church.

His father influenced Jim’s spiritual journey at Canaan Baptist Church. He was ordained a Deacon on February 27, 1988, and spent several years chairing the Deacon Board. He also served the church community as an usher; a member of the Brotherhood Club; Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Director of Sunday School; and Spiritual Advisor to the Ladies Guild and to the M. Cecil Mills Ensemble and Royal Workers. In 2018, Jim received the ultimate church honor when he was named Father of Canaan Baptist Church, an apt title as the longest continuous member and the only remaining church member from the founding family.

In 2019, Jim suffered a major stroke, which left him with aphasia, reducing his verbal communication. Despite his illness, Jim’s personality remained vibrant. Long after losing the ability to consistently communicate verbally, his sense of humor shined through, and he continued to find joy in the company of others. Jim enjoyed joking with his family and making them laugh until the end.

Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife, Carrie, loving daughter, Sherone, granddaughter, Lory, and grandson, Cameron, as well as his Masonic son Orin McCrae and his friend Kevin Martin, both of whom remained by Jim and Carrie’s side throughout his illness and after his passing. Also surviving Jim are his caring extended family, including sisters-in-law, Dorothy Manning and Veronica Ivey; nieces and nephews, Yvette Dunbar, Dabilet Jones, Jr., Gail Dunlap, Earl Ivey, Deborah Ivey, Ernest Ivey, III, Linda Ivey, John D. Ivey, Donna Ivey Douglas, Gina Ivey, and Sean Ivey; and many grand nieces and nephews. (Three nephews preceded Jim in death: Jeremiah “Milton” Ivey, Donald Ivey, and Malcolm Ivey.) Finally, Jim is fondly remembered by his nephew and nieces by marriage, Eric Bibolet, Catherine Bibolet, and Karen Haskins, as well as a host of other relatives, godchildren, and friends.