Ivory Crittendon's Obituary
Reverand Ivory Crittendon, Sr. (“Pastor Ivory”, “Dad”, or “Granddad” as he was affectionately know) passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 27, 2020, at his home in Fife, Washington. Pastor Ivory was born on December 24, 1930 in Lexington, Texas. His parents were Elijah and Blanche Crittendon and he was the youngest of five children.
Pastor Ivory served his country from 1947 to 1953 and was honorably discharged attaining to the rank of sergeant. Shortly after moving to Tacoma, Pastor Ivory, a Korean War Veteran, pursued Auto Body Repair at Bates Technical/Vocational College after his discharge. Pasto Ivory began his work in the Hilltop area of Tacoma, with another well-known body shop. During this same time, he worked at the American Lake Veteran’s Hospital as a nurse’s aide. In 1969, he married the love of his life, Billie Ruth White and founded Ivory’s Auto Rebuild located at 2155 Martin Luther King Jr. Way (formerly known as “K” Street). Pastor Ivory was instrumental in helping to rename this street.
He owned and operated Ivory’s Auto Rebuild for 30 years until 1996. While working in the automotive business, Pastors Ivory and Billie founded the Brotherhood Church of God located at 2124 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma in 1971. Pastor Ivory felt a call from the Lord to continue serving and helping others better their lives. His passion was to have a father in every home and to educate children. After starting BCOG, Pastor Ivory felt the need to further his education so he could more effectively help young people who were falling through the cracks of our society. Through Tacoma Community College, he created a program in cooperation with the Tacoma School District and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to help students. His program took some of the hardest young men and allowed them to earn part of their high school education credits through welding at his auto body shop. He also created the Destiny House located on 2154 South J Street in Tacoma, which housed young men. Through this Pastor Ivory counseled and mentored hundreds of young men into productive members of society. Pastor Ivory kept investing into the community. In 1992, Pastor Ivory raised $1.5 million dollars to build Christian Brotherhood Academy (CBA) at 2136 MLK Jr. Way, Tacoma. Pastors Ivory and Billie focused on providing a daycare and an education for pre-K to 8th grade students. At one time, CBA was home to about 80 students. Pastor Ivory is quoted saying “We can give them a start so they can feel that they are a part of a good community. We will make this a beautiful community by giving them the tools to do anything they want. We can break, we believe, this cycle of poverty up here.” He built a school to do his part in helping to educate students in Tacoma with Christian values and principles.
In 2015, Pastor Ivory retired from education and CBA closed its doors after nearly 22 years of service. Pastor Ivory continued pouring into the lives of others and the community. Under his leadership, the Brotherhood Church of God continued to be a lighthouse for the community. Other churches and ministries (such as Brotherhood RISE Center now housed at 2136 MLK Jr. Way) were born through Pastor Ivory’s impact as well as countless salvations and life transformations. He is greatly loved by his congregation and served as Senior Pastor until his passing for 48 years.
Pastor Ivory’s greatest joy, however, came from working in his yard, fishing, and spending quality time with friends and family. He was a collector of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorabilia and antique cars. He has worked in prison ministry, as a speaker for retreats and events, March for Jesus partner, Men’s prayer breakfast supporter, and National Day of Prayer advocate among other things. He has received awards such as the recipient of the Korean Ambassador Peace Medal, Rotary Club Community Service Award, and the 2012 City of Tacoma 2nd Quarter recipient of the Human Rights Champion Award. Pastor Ivory has been recognized in both the local and national press (i.e. People magazine) many times for his tireless efforts helping to transform the inner city of Tacoma. He has impacted countless of hundreds of lives. Pastor Ivory was a dreamer! At 89 years old, his latest work project was turning an old tavern into a car museum for the Hilltop community. Pastor Ivory will always be remembered as a
visionary, an investor, a hard worker, and a charismatic leader. He was known as a man of God who had the ability to spread good cheer and lift the mood of those in need.
His departure from this earth has already left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those who knew him best, especially his loving wife and best friend of 50 years, Billie Crittendon, aka “Mother”. Pastor Ivory was preceded in death by 3 of his 15 children– Wilma Jean Young, Jerry Jackson, and Deborah Crittendon. Pastor Ivory is survived by his wife Billie, his sister Ella Mae Pease of Austin, Texas, his living children (Ivory Crittendon Jr. , Charles Crittendon, Pastor Blanche Coney, Kenneth Crittendon, Sheila Ferdinand, Willie Mae Crittendon, David Dewayne White, Tina White, Robert White, Kelley Allison, Eric Crittendon, and Daniel Crittendon), cousins, nieces, nephews, and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren, and great, great, great grandchildren. Rest in peace Pastor Ivory—you served well!!
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