Eleva Mae Wright Ivey

ELEVA MAE WRIGHT IVEY, affectionately known by many as “Bambi”, was born on May 27^th, 1921 in Sweetwater, Tennessee, and went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, May 4^th, 2018 at the age of 96.  She moved from Sweetwater to Maryville, Tennessee where her father, John Henry Wright, was a circuit preacher.  He along with Eleva’s mother, Rose Leanne Morrow Wright, a missionary, moved to Penney Farms, Florida, where she began attending Clay High School, graduating from there in 1939.  Eleva resided in Green Cove Springs from that time until the time of her death.  While in high school she met and later married Everette Ivey.  Eleva was a talented musician and an accomplished seamstress.  She began piano lessons at the young age of six and always dreamed of being a concert pianist.  She also began sewing as an eight-year-old little girl, and sewed for family, friends and countless others for decades.  While she loved these things, her greatest joy was raising her four daughters.  Eleva spent her life living for Jesus, unashamedly sharing her faith, which she continued throughout her last days.  In addition to her personal walk with the Lord, she dearly loved her church and faithfully served there for more than 70 years where she was both the pianist and organist.  Eleva was the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman…“Her children arise up and call her blessed.” She not only shared her faith, but also modeled it in her daily life.  She is predeceased by her father John Henry Wright, mother Rose Leanne Wright, one sister Eltha Rose Hall, two brothers Willis B. Wright and John Homer Wright.  She is survived by four daughters, Carolyne Knowles (Harold), Leanne Hodges (Gene), Gwen Sapp (Dick), and Melanie Nichols; seven grandchildren, sixteen great and nine great-great grandchildren.  Her family will receive friends at a viewing scheduled for Tuesday, May 8^th, 2018, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring Street, Green Cove Springs, Florida, 32043.  A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, May 9^th, at First Baptist Church Green Cove Springs, 615 Walnut Street, with Pastor Sam Castaño officiating.  Burial will follow at Hickory Grove Cemetery.  If you desire to give a donation in memory of Mrs. Ivey, contributions may be made in her memory to HAVEN HOSPICE, 745 Blanding Boulevard, Orange Park, Florida, 32065.