Ivan Pearson

Mr. Ivan O. Pearson Sr. was born on the twenty-fourth day of November, nineteen hundred twenty-five, to Odessa Crider and I. O. Pearson, in Huntingdon, Tennessee. After the untimely death of his father, Ivan was reared from early childhood by loving parents Clarence and Odessa Branch.
He was educated in the Carroll County Public School System and graduated from the prestigious Webb High School. It was at Webb High School that he met the love of his life, Josephine Turner. They were united in Holy matrimony on March 9, 1946 and were blessed with four sons and one daughter.
In 1953, Ivan and Josephine relocated their family to Saginaw, Michigan. He was employed by General Motors where he advanced to the position of Labor Foreman at the Chevrolet Grey Iron Foundry and retired on December 1, 1980. After retirement, he was briefly employed by the Saginaw Board of Education.
In 1956, Ivan became a born again baptized believer in Jesus Christ, in union with the Truevine Missionary Baptist Church, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Robert B. Corley Sr. He continued consistently in his determination to grow in grace as he walked with the Lord.
When he was ordained as Deacon at the Truevine Baptist Church in the late 50s, he was the youngest deacon. And he was proud of the fact that he now was the oldest and longest serving deacon at the church. He served diligently while maintaining this awesome and highly respected position until his death.
On Thursday morning, August 6, 2009, at 3:10 a.m., Deacon Ivan O. Pearsons soul took flight from his mortal body and landed softly and gently in the arms of Jesus. Being absent from the body and now present with the Lord.
Deacon Pearson has left many indelible and loving memories to be cherished by his loving and dedicated wife, Josephine; mother-in-law Maggie Mae Goodrich; four sons: Ivan O. Pearson, Jr., Robert W. (Phyllis) Pearson, Clarence E. (Cynthia) Pearson, John E. (Monica) Pearson; one daughter, Linda P. (William) Smith; three brothers: Ernest (Jean) Wallick, Neosho (Ruby) Branch, Clarence Branch Jr.; two sisters: Brooxie (Thomas) Fentress, Virginia Maple; 16 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law: Lucille (Percy) Coleman and Hilda M. Buford; several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends who felt like family. He was preceded in death by his mother Odessa Branch, stepfather Clarence Branch and sister, Alice I. Carter.