John Ivy

1961 - 2025

John Talmadge Ivy lived on Ivy Hill all 64 years of his life. He met his Lord and Savior surrounded by his family at the Ivy homestead on Sunday morning, December 28, 2025, after battling cancer for over 6 years. He would have been 65 in 15 days. Born on January 12, 1961, he was the son of the late Jack Talmade Ivy and late Adelia Tate Ivy Bartholomae. He was a 1979 graduate of Shannon High School. John followed a long line of the Ivy family who tilled the soil, farming the lands of Lee County around the Shannon area for generations, including the 51 harvests he personally participated in on Ivy Farms. After his dad's death at age 53, John assumed the responsibility of continuing his dad's legacy of being a great farmer, raising soybeans, cotton, corn, wheat and cattle. He was an ace mechanic and could repair any farm machinery and especially enjoyed his farm shop. A man of strong faith he read his Bible daily and lived his life exemplifying the Old Testament scripture "to have a friend you must be a friend." And John had many. He loved being a steward of the soil and always put his family first. John was especially proud of his son's, Jake and Zack, and was always teaching them, and his grandchildren, his solid "farm boy" philosophy and logic- passing on great life lessons he had learned from his forebears. He was an avid reader who enjoyed music and hunted on occasion. He held the record for the largest deer killed in Lee County in the last 30 years. He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Shannon making a public profession of faith at age 12. He loved and cared for his neighbors and was very forgiving. He was a gentle spirit whose legacy will be putting God and family first and living with gratitude and generosity among his family, fellow farmers and his many friends.

A service celebrating his life will be held at 2 PM Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at First Baptist Church, Shannon with Sanctuary Hospice Chaplain Jay Stanley officiating. Burial will follow in Shannon Cemetery in the Ivy family plot. Visitation will be from 4 PM-7 PM today (Tue. 12/30/25) at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors and will continue from Noon-service time on Wednesday at First Baptist-Shannon.

John is survived by Valarie Smithey of Shannon; his children, Jake T. Ivy (Katie) and Zack Ivy (Rebekah) all of Shannon, India Dee King of Saltillo, Bridgette Stidham (Justin) of Shannon, sisters; Jackie Ivy, Melinda McElroy, Maria Staub (Steven) all of Tupelo, and Valarie's children, Kacie Hollimon (Luke) of Tupelo and Jacob Cameron (Noel) of Saltillo, grandchildren: Jack Ivy, Joseph Ivy, Hazel Ivy, Samuel Ivy, Riley Stidham, Cameron Raines (Jacob), Drew Hollimon, Riley Cameron, Payton Cameron and Trent Harmon and the mother of his children Mary Inmon Ivy. He also leaves behind special nieces and nephews and a host of cousins who he loved.

Pallbearers will be Jake Ivy, Zack Ivy, Jacob Cameron, Mack Simmons, Cameron Tate and Drew Hollimon. Honorary Pallbearers will be Eddie Tate, Edward Jolly, Terry Johnson, Gerlad Holcomb, Mike Simmons, Frank McCarly, Jerry Ellis, Jerry Riley and Buddy Jones. Junior Pallbearers will be Jack Ivy, Joseph Ivy, Samuel Ivy and Weston Simmons.

Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P. O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS. 38803. Holland Funeral Directors are honored to serve his family during this difficult time.