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The Reverend James Olivent of Hannatown, Georgia, passed away August 31, 2024.  Services for Rev. Olivent will be held on Thursday, September 5 at 12:00 noon at Hannatown Cemetery with Rev. Emory Smith officiating.     

     James was born on January 3, 1929 in a farmhouse in Recovery, Georgia, the third of six children born to Olga Thaddeus Olivent and Wilma Alene Freeman Olivent. The family moved to Faceville when James was about ten years old. James graduated from Faceville High School, one of twelve students in his senior class.  He was Salutatorian which garnered him a state scholarship. He spent two years at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus.

     After only two years of college, James earned his teaching certificate and began  a career as a teacher in 1947. He taught school in Reynoldsville for a year then went to Tucker, Georgia to teach from1948 to 1952. In summer of 1952, he returned to Faceville and took a  job at the Floridin mine in Quincy. During this time he courted Bernice Hanna, and the two were married in December of 1952.

    They moved to Atlanta in early 1953. By July of that year James was drafted into the US Army and shipped off to Korea. He was there until July of 1955, serving in the Quartermaster Corps. After discharge, he enrolled in Florida State University, and they lived in Tallahassee from 1955 until 1958. James began teaching again and taught school in Woodbine, Georgia, Thomasville, Georgia, and, lastly, in Quincy, Florida.  He taught English and Spanish and was well loved by all his students.

     In 1965, James became a Methodist minister, and his first church was in Greensboro, Florida.  The next year he enrolled in Candler School of Theology at Emory University and graduated there in 1969. During this time, he was a student minister at a two church circuit in Newton County.

     He joined the Florida Conference after seminary and served throughout the state of Florida at United Methodist churches including East Naples, Mims, Pahokee, Davie, Eustis, Ruskin, and St. Paul’s Melbourne.  James retired from active ministry in 1994.

     He and Bernice enjoyed their time traveling to all fifty states, and several international trips. After Bernice passed away in 2001, James decided to move back to Decatur County.  He rejoined the Forest Hills Church in Quincy, where they had attended prior to his joining the ministry.  It wasn’t long before he was asked to serve as the pastor, which he held for three years ending in 2006.  He was later asked to serve as pastor at Recovery UMC which he did for 2 ½ years, serving until the age of 81.

     James lived a life of service.  He believed in being faithful to God in whatever capacity he could.  He was an avid fisherman and found a time and place wherever he was to pursue that. He fished everyday, weather and health permitting, until weeks before his passing. He was great gardener. As long as he was able, he grew bountiful vegetable gardens, as well as tending to his beautiful yards. He loved his children and grandchildren along with his extended family and many nieces and nephews.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bernice, brother, Francis Olivent of Decatur, Georgia, Edgar Olivent of Faceville, sister, Mavis Wiggins and brother- in- law, James Wiggins of Conyers, Georgia, and  sister- in- law, Jane Olivent of Oviedo, Florida. He is survived his sons, Chris Olivent of Altamonte Springs, Florida and Chad Olivent of Bainbridge; grandsons, Caleb Olivent of Bainbridge and Cameron Olivent of Woodstock, Georgia. Also  by brother, Thad Olivent of Oviedo, Florida;  brother Preston Olivent (Carolyn) of Santa Fe, New Mexico, sister- in- law, Catherine Olivent of Faceville, and sister -in –law, Polly Olivent of Baldwin, Georgia; sister- in- law, Becky Nix of Cleveland, Georgia,  and sister- in- law, Wanda Hanna of Tallahassee; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

     Online condolences maybe made at www.coxiveyfuneralhome.com.  Cox-Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.