Essie Maude Ivory Harris

Edwards Small Mortuary announces with our deepest sympathy the passing of Essie Maude Ivory Harris on July 30, 2024. Our sincere condolences to the family and friends. 

Essie Maude Ivory-Harris was born on August 17, 1937, in Fort Valley, Georgia to the late John Henry Ivory Sr. and Annie Maude Preston-Ivory. She was raised alongside a total of 12 siblings.

The Ivory siblings share a sacred and unified bond that will never be broken. A bond fostered by their loving and faith filled mother, Annie Maude Preston-Ivory. The siblings grew up with great reference for family and faith. Children and grandchildren alike have recounted stories of Annie Maude’s noonday prayers.

Faith was a daily practice and a legacy that was diligently passed on to the children.

Essie lived this legacy aloud daily. It was not limited to the House of the Lord on Sundays, or any other day of the week. In fact, it often extended to her living room and sometimes even extended to yours. Friends and family rarely left her house without receiving a word from God. What would start as a prayer circle would quickly progress into hands clapping and raised, feet marching, and Essie prophesying. Essie’s faith radiated through her wherever she went. To be in her presence was to experience the humility and servitude first modeled by Jesus Christ. She was a natural caregiver. Anything she had was yours. And if she had nothing else, she had a refrigerator full of food to feed you. No matter who you were, you were encouraged to sit and eat before you walked out of her door, and she was going to tell you she loved you before you left, even if she barely knew you.

In her later years, most were known to her as lil’ girl or lil’ boy, but whether or not she deemed it necessary to address you by your government name, you knew that you were loved abundantly when in her presence. She had a heart forged by God himself and while she is back at His side today, she leaves behind a lifetime of joy, faith, laughter, and love. 

Essie is preceded in death by her parents John Henry and Annie Maude Preston Ivory, eleven siblings: Daisy M. Rumph, Willie J. Ivory, Dorothy White, Bernice Johnson, Ethel M. Burke, Jimmy Ivory, Bertha R. Rumph, Mary J. Pollock, Louis Leon Ivory, Sr., John H. Ivory, Jr., Charles Ivory; two children: Joann Harris-Freeman, Alexander Bernard Harris Sr.; as well as one grandson: Major “PeeWee” Freeman.

Essie leaves behind her precious three children: Bobby (Linda) Ivory, Lamar Harris, and Tracie (Barry) Knowles who will forever cherish her memory. Along with 15 grandchildren: Teria Ivory, Rod Ivory, Latricia Ahmad, Lilwarren Freeman, Tenill (Kevin) Smith, Jay Freeman, Jauquese (Glenn) Thomas, Tiffany (Eric) Israel, Pat Freeman, Tareel Harris, Alexander Bernard Harris Jr., Barry Knowles II, Joshua Harris, Yaschica (Craig) Fitzpatrick and Sophia (Philip) Akinsulire and one sibling, Missouri (Eugene) Low