“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such, there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22

Belle Devine Ivey, 77, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Savior, Saturday morning January 21st after gracefully enduring various health challenges towards the end of her life. She took her first breaths on March 14, 1945, in her family home in St. Stephen, South Carolina. She was the youngest of eight children born to the late Jacob Devine Jr. and Annie Devine. Her early life was full of trees, the rich love of her family, and their boundless faith in God. Even decades after her parents’ passings, just the mention of their names painted a smile of deep gratitude across Belle’s face. At an early age, she accepted Christ and was a member of Jehovah Baptist Church. In spring of 1964, Belle graduated from Russellville High School where she was revered for her unfaltering kindness by many of her classmates.

Belle continued to reside in South Carolina where she married and became a mother, giving birth to her first daughter Angela Marveta. Eventually, she relocated to the District of Columbia for a few years and then settled in Virginia with her first-born blessing. In Virginia, Belle was blessed to find love and marriage in James Edward Ivey, and she eventually gave birth to her second blessing, Dawn LaKeesha.   Belle attended some classes at Norfolk State University and worked as a factory line worker for General Electric in Suffolk for 17 1/2 years until the plant closed. Belle spoke fondly of her time working for GE and the colorful people with which she formed meaningful connections.

Once the plant closed, Belle listened to the yearning and calling in her heart placed by God and worked toward her dream of becoming a nurse. She attended nursing school, studying untold hours at her kitchen table, committing to memory complex anatomical and medical terms, many of which she never forgot even well after retirement. Belle excelled and received her nursing license in 1990 and worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for over 20 years where she touched countless souls and their family members with her signature gentleness and love of the Lord. She was most drawn to caring for elderly patients and spent much of her nursing career working in nursing home facilities in addition to working five years at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital.

With diligence and care, Belle worked many holidays and nights caring for patients and being a source of peace for their families. Her nights before work were spent carefully ironing her uniforms and packing the next day’s lunch. Her mornings would see her awake at 6:00 am and on her way by 6:20 am, as smooth as clockwork. Belle’s career as a nurse filled her with immense joy and she often spoke of her patients with equal parts love, humor, and endless compassion. Her fellow nurses like her patients were quite fond of “Ms. Ivey” as they respectfully called her. By the end of Belle’s nursing career, her China closet brimmed with tokens of appreciation from patients and their families in the form of gifts and memorabilia.

From South Carolina to Virginia to Michigan, Belle always walked, guided by and devoted to her heavenly Father. In Michigan, where Belle lived for 12 years with her daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren, two of her favorite pastimes were attending Sunday school and Bible study. She was a member of Bethesda Christian Church in Sterling Heights, MI and was also a faithful participant in the Community Bible Study program, where she acted as a facilitator. Decades prior, she was a cherished member at New Testament Church, Portsmouth, VA, where she taught youth Sunday school and sang joyfully in the choir.

In life, Belle saw the final sunsets of loved ones including her husband James of 27 years, sisters Ernestine Horlbeck and Rebecca Jones, and four brothers Henry Devine, Jacob Devine III, Richard Devine, and Leroy Devine. Belle has left a lifetime of love to her daughters, Angela Veal (James, Jr.) of Macomb Township, MI and Dawn Ivey of Chesapeake, VA. She beamed with pride and in awe of her four grandchildren, Aaron Felton of Los Angeles, CA, Shalenah Ivey of Chesapeake, VA, Nicholas Veal of Sterling Heights, MI and Zachary Veal of Macomb Township, MI. She also leaves a lifetime of love for her sister, Eloise Bryant of Brooklyn, NY, her sister-in-law, Ruby Devine of Portsmouth, VA, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

The infectious smile that glowed across Belle’s face will always be remembered by all that had the honor to know her. Her legacy is perfumed by her oceanic heart of love and her steadfast faith in Christ. She finished her race exceedingly well and all that she was is unforgettable. It was a blessing to know her and to love her.  She was simply special. All praise is given to the most High who fashioned her and now holds her in His right hand for all of eternity.