Ella M. Ivey, 83, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away, Thursday, November 4, 2010, at Winchester Medical Center. Rev. Ivey was born in 1927, in Blenheim, South Carolina, the youngest of 11 children born to the late John Wesley and Fannie Mae Peterkin.

A licensed teacher, and ordained minister, she received her BA in Education from Lehman College, New York; MS in Education from Fordham University, New York; and her Masters of Divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary where she later headed the office of Alumni Affairs. Passionate about her ministry, particularly to women and young people, she received all these degrees after raising a family where her three children also earned degrees. In addition to many other achievements she served and retired as the Director of Christian Education at Calvary Baptist Church in Queens, New York in 2004 before finally moving with her husband Dwellie to their final resting place in Front Royal, Virginia.

Rev. Ivey leaves to cherish her life, a daughter, Glenda Bennerson and her husband, Alphonso of Front Royal; two sons, Rodney and his wife, Jennifer of Queens, New York and Okera of the Bronx, New York; eleven grandchildren; and three great granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, Dwellie William Ivey (1/17/2010), her siblings, and a grandson, Ralphie Edwards.

A funeral service will be conducted at Shenandoah Farms Baptist Church on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. with the Pastor Jack Wampler, Sr. officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Hebron Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Shenandoah Farms Baptist Church on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M.

Please view obituary and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com.