Hoyt Clifford Ivester

Rev. Hoyt C. Ivester, age 89, of Myrtle Street, New Holland, passed away on Monday, July 27, 2009 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center following a brief illness.

Born in Toccoa, Georgia on December. 26, 1919, the son of the late Frank and Mary Bell Massey Ivester, Hoyt made the mill village of New Holland his home most of his life. As father, grandfather, pastor and friend he touched the lives of everyone he came in contact with.

In April 1943, Hoyt and four of his brothers went into the military and fought in WW II. Following basic training in Macon, Georgia at Camp Wheeler, he was sent overseas to Rome, Sicily and Casablanca, Italy. He served and fought honorably in Company E, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, being awarded the Purple Heart among other awards.

Hoyt returned to New Holland following WW II and work at New Holland Mill for over 40 years, retiring in 1985. Aside from working full time in the mill he was also a Southern Baptist Minister. He was the pastor of numerous churches in the north Georgia area to include Chattahoochee Baptist in Flowery Branch, Fairview Missionary Baptist Church in Gainesville, Level Grove in Maysville and Pendergrass Baptist Church in Pendergrass, Georgia. He was Ordained as a minister September, 1954, at Pleasant Union Baptist Church, New Holland, Gainesville, Georgia.
Survivors include his daughter, Jeanne Riley, of Jefferson; grandchildren, David Bruce; Todd Riley, Leah Smith, Hannah Brookshire and Timothy Riley; as well as eleven great-grandchildren; he is also survived by a brother Will Ivester and sister Jewel Martin. He was preceded in death by his lovely wife of over 60 years, Ruby Wilson Ivester; also preceded by his mother and father, brothers Cortez, Pete, Paul and Buck Ivester; and sister, Illone Ramey.

Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 11:00 am in the Chapel of Memorial Park with interment to follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Reverend Bill Carpenter will officiate. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 and Wednesday, July 29, 2009, from 5 - 8 pm at the funeral home.



Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA 30504 is in charge of arrangements.