Mother Ivory Ross - Lambert

Arkansas’ Second Oldest Supercentenarian Succumbs at 113 years The home going celebration for Mrs. Ivory Ross Lambert, Arkansas’ second oldest citizen and one of the world’s supercentenarians will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the Dr. F.O. Jones Christian Center in Bearden, Arkansas. Surrounded by family, Mrs. Lambert passed on to glory Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at St. John’s Place in Fordyce, Arkansas. Mrs. Lambert is the oldest citizen of Dallas County and the second oldest citizen of both Ouachita County and the state of Arkansas. Surpassing seven generations, Mrs. Lambert is among supercentenarians listed across the nation and world. She is recorded in the archives of the Church of God in Christ National as the oldest member and is one of the founding members of the New Faithway Church of God In Christ of Holly Springs, AR. Ivory Ross was born September 16, 1899 in the Mt. Olive community of Bradley County, daughter of the late George and Maggie Ingram Ross. She later moved to the Holly Springs community of Bearden, AR, where she met and later married Lee Lambert. To this union, four children were born. A dedicated homemaker, she worked diligently alongside her husband and family maintaining the family’s farm and sorghum mill. Her hobbies included reading the Bible, gardening, cooking, canning, traveling, quilting, shopping, attending church and entertaining family and friends. She was feisty, vivacious, outgoing and witty, with a contagious, hearty chuckle. Mrs. Lambert assisted, sometimes confidentially, many families over the years with food, clothing and/or shelter. She remained an active member of the New Faithway Church of God in Christ, where Supt. Terry Williams is pastor. A faithful member, she served in many auxiliaries over the years, including the kitchen committee, Church Mother and District Mother. Mrs. Lambert was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lee Lambert and three children, Moses Lambert, Arbie Dee Lambert Moyer and William Lambert; three siblings, Ethel Ross Feaster, Ferdia Ross and Willie Ross. She leaves to cherish her memory, one daughter Mrs. Blanche Ferrell of Palo Alto, CA; her great granddaughter and caregiver Mrs. Norma (Allen) Jones of Bearden, AR; one daughter in-law Mrs. Lucille Lambert of Rockford, IL; 20 grandchildren; 70 great grandchildren; 61 great-great grandchildren; 14 great-great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great-great grandchild. During her life, Mrs. Lambert received numerous recognitions, awards and proclamations for her legacy of service and living including: Proclamations& letters of Recognition: • United States President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and the White House family, administration and staff 2010 • State of Arkansas under Governors Mike Huckabee and Mike Beebe • City of Little Rock Board of Directors under Mayors Jim Dailey and Mark Stodola • Ouachita County Quorum Court under Judge Mike Hesterly • City of Blue Springs, Missouri under Mayor Carlton Ross (her nephew) • Special Centenarian certificate from the Social Security Administration 2011 Certificates/Awards/Plaques/Recognition: • Ouachita County Road 95 named “Ivory Lane” in her honor 1999 • Outstanding Community Service Award during 2002 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Fordyce, AR • 50 years service as First Lady of the Lambert Community Reunion 2005 • Women of Stamina Honoree, John Barrow Neighborhood Association, Little Rock, AR October 2006 • Special appointment asDistrict Church Mother for Camden North District Church of God In Christ (COGIC) 2006 • Service Award from Bearden Branch NAACP 2006, 2010 • Honoree of Camden Juneteenth Committee Award 2008-2009 • Grand Marshall of Camden Juneteenth Parade 2008 • Honored participant in the Dallas County Fordyce on the Cottonbelt Festival Parade 2007 • Service Award from the Arkansas COGIC 55th Annual State Women's Convention June 2009 • Honored as the Oldest Living Member of the Church of God in Christ National & one of the original Founding Members of New Faithway Church of God in Christ by Bishop Sedrick Daniels of the Board of Bishops COGIC National Headquarter & Bishop Frank J. Anderson Jr. Prelate , AR Second Jurisdiction 2010, 2012 • Media/Publications: • Aging Arkansas tabloid • Fordyce Advocate newspaper • KBJT-AM & KQ102-FM Fordyce, AR; Radio interview • South Arkansas Sunday News newspaper • The Camden News- newspaper • South Arkansas 1900-2000 “Piecing Together Our Past” Special Edition for S. AR Sunday News • Arkansas KARK Channel 4 – TV station • Arkansas FOX 16 News – TV station • Arkansas KATV Channel 7 – TV station • New York NBC Today Show – morning news show • “Afro-Americans Bradley County, AR 1800-1930’s. Book published in 2008 by Mac Arthur & Princella Davis • The Village Celebration - online magazine • Celebrating and Embracing the Legacy of our Past, Present and Future 2012 - Lambert-Rideout Reunion historical book Public visitation will be from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 20th at the New Faithway Church of God in Christ; 1674 Hwy 9, Bearden, Arkansas. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The committal service and final resting place will be at the White Springs AME Cemetery, 149 Ouachita 271, Bearden, Arkansas with the repast following immediately at the Bucktown Hunting Club, 1077 Hwy 9, Bearden, Arkansas. Resolutions, expressions and tributes may be faxed to 870-246-0509 or emailed to Williams Funeral Home - williams.hm@sbcglobal.net Memorials may be directed to The Lambert Community Reunion (LCR); c/o Mrs. Shirley T. Williams, financial secretary; PO Box 227, Fordyce, Arkansas 71742. Established in 1955 by her husband, the late Lee Lambert with other community leaders, the LCR supports community beautification projects and upkeep of the White Springs Cemetery.