Elizabeth “Lib” Ivey
Gaffney, SC – Kathryn Elizabeth “Lib” Reeves Ivey, 89, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at Cherokee Medical Center.
She was born in Jonesville on September 15, 1936 and was the daughter of the late Charles Lester and Louise Bailey Reeves. She attended graded schools in Woodruff, South Carolina, graduating from Woodruff High School in 1954. She was a member of the Beta Club. She attended Lander College in Greenwood, SC in 1954-1956.
On June 7, 1956, she married the Reverend Robert Allison Ivey and together they served the Unity and Cedar Grove Baptist Churches. She conducted prayer services at Unity while her husband attended the seminary. She was a graduate of Furman University in 1958. She taught the sixth grade in the Northside School in Woodruff, SC in 1958-1959. While she attended Furman her husband attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She helped her husband greatly with his typing.
She moved to Pacolet Mills, SC with her husband in 1959, and began teaching in the Fremont School in Spartanburg, SC in 1960. Elizabeth played the pipe organ at the Pacolet Mills Baptist Church.
They moved to South Hill, Virginia in 1966, and she began teaching in the South Hill Elementary School. While teaching in this school she was named Top Young Educator in 1970.
She moved to Gaffney, SC in 1974, with her husband and children: Timothy Reeves Ivey, John Brent Ivey and Mary Beth Ivey, and began teaching in the J. Paul Beam Elementary School. She later was selected to serve on the District Staff as Coordinator of Middle Schools and Secondary Education in the Cherokee County School District.
She served as Music Director of the Draytonville Baptist Church from June 6, 1976 until May 27, 2012. She also played the organ and piano at times. She worked with the youth during these years. Several of her young people because ministers of the gospel. She also was a member of Al Turner’s Sunday School class and was a substitute teacher. Her organizational skills will be greatly missed by the Draytonville Baptist Church.
She and her husband were avid fans of the Gaffney High football team during this time. She helped to stabilize Robert’s and her work in the Draytonville church.
She was presented a Certificate of Appreciation for 46 years of devoted service to the children of South Carolina by the State Superintendent of Education.
She always loved the Christmas seasons and had her house well decorated for the occasions. She was at one time an assistant pianist for the Limestone Methodist Church.
After her retirement she and her husband became special visitors to the shut-ins. She also planned trips for the Senior Citizens.
She served Brown’s Packing as a Chaplain while a member of the Market Place Ministries. She and her husband were married for 69 years.
When she died, she left a loving husband, Dr. Robert Allison Ivey, three children, Timothy Reeves Ivey, John Brent Ivey and Mary Beth Ivey Scruggs (Drayton); numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and her favorite dog, Skippy. She taught Skippy to jump on the couch and sit in her lap. If Skippy escaped from the house, she was the only one who could capture him.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim Reeves and Robert Reeves and a sister, Mary Charles McGowan.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at Draytonville Baptist Church with Dr. Keith Harrill officiating. The family will receive friends following the services in the Church Family Life Center. Interment will be private for the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Draytonville Baptist Church, 179 Draytonville Church Road, Gaffney, SC 29340.
The family will be at the residence.
An online guest register is available at www.blakelyfuneralhome.com Blakely Funeral Home & Crematory, Gaffney, SC
Loading Comments