Mr. Ivory Williams

Ivory Lee Williams, aka “Ike” “Reverend Ike” was born on October 19, 1944, in Holly Grove, Arkansas to Lila Mae and John E. Williams.

He attended Holly Grove elementary and high schools. He grew up in a closely knit, nurturing household that included aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, a truly blended family.

Ivory lived a special childhood with a freedom that comes with small town life. The whole town was his playground. He enjoyed being on the town’s swimming and fishing lake with his friends.

Ivory loved playing cowboy. However, when the time came and every one of his playmates hung up their guns, Ike was still playing the cowboy game. In his early teen years Ike became the best dancer in town. Because of this, he earned the moniker “Dr. Pepper” and had all the girls waiting in line to dance with him.

Ivory accepted Christ early in his life and became a member of St. Paul’s Church of Holly Grove, AR. Ivory came to Kansas City in 1966.

He set out to make a way for himself, landing a construction apprenticeship with O'Malley and Simpson Construction Co. He went on to become a heavy equipment operator with American Curb and to perform his own contract work.

Ike never met a stranger. He had a gift for connecting with anyone he met. He was a music lover, especially the delta blues, inspirational gospel and the jazz artists of that time. He was always there expressing empathy and positive encouragement. Ike had an entrepreneurial spirit. Because of this and his love of people and bringing them together, Ivory opened and ran several late-night spots where a good time was always to be had. Ike loved his family and he loved to cook. Over the years, he often brought the family together for holiday and birthday dinners and parties, always with plenty of food. Family is already missing his greens, black-eyed peas and cornbread, and chitterlings. Ike was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. He always made time to listen and offer common sense advice on life’s problems.

Ivory is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Cleo McCuary and his daughters Antoinette Brody and Camille Green.

 Ike was a real girl-dad, you could see the special place he held in his heart especially for his daughters, nieces, granddaughters and all the girls in the family as they grew up. Left to cherish Ivory’s memory is his partner and wife of 44 years, Rise Williams, daughter Ivori LaToi Williams, brother John Williams, sister Lydell Upshaw, grandchildren Jas’myn Morris (Lamonte), Ken’dal Williams, Merissa Edgenton-Green, Eliyah Green, Anthony Williams, and Caleb Williams, six great-grandchildren, and a host of family and friends. 

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, March 8, 2024,11am at Watkins Heritage Chapel. Interment XII Gates Memorial Gardens. Visitation 10am11am at the chapel. Services conducted by Watkins Heritage Chapel. Condolences may be shred on our website. 

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