Vivola Jester

A celebration of life to honor Vivola Smith Jester will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at Ivey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Paul Medley officiating, concluding at the chapel. Private interment will be in Oak City Cemetery. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the chapel. Vivola will always be in our hearts and will be remembered with a smile. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Julia White Scholarship Fund of Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers Sorority, c/o Martha Todd, 1702 Culbreth St., Bainbridge, GA 39819. Vivola lived an exciting and fulfilling life. She was born August 5, 1916 in Harrison, Georgia, the daughter of C. T. Smith and Mabel Chivers Smith. She experienced a variety of events in life, from being a USO girl during World War II, to being a grade school teacher for over 36 years, and was active in her church. Some of her former students are now prominent residents of Bainbridge. After retirement, she would frequently have business and social interactions with them. Some of her happiest moments in life were being with family, telling funny stories of childhood experiences, and taking trips with friends to exciting places such as Alaska, Canada, and England. One of her fondest memories was traveling by train from Milledgeville, GA to New York City with other GSCW students to attend the Worlds Fair in 1939. When she told stories of her experiences, it was as if you were reading your favorite book. Vivola was a graduate of Dublin High School, Class of 1933. She attended Norman Park College and graduated from Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville (now Georgia College and State University). She started her teaching career in Centerville, GA during the late 1930's, teaching multiple grades in a small school. Later she attended summer school and earned her bachelor's degree. Vivola was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, a sorority for educators, serving as president of the local chapter in the 1980's. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bainbridge for 72 years, and was a member of the Mamie Nordan Circle. Vivola lived the past three years in Marietta, GA, after residing in Bainbridge since the early 1940's. She passed away on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at age 94. Vivola is survived by her son, Victor Jester and wife Patricia of Marietta, GA; her nephews, Ken Smith and wife Annie, and Jack Smith and his wife Linda of Tallahassee, FL, Fain Smith and his wife Ruth of Sopchoppy, FL, and Charles A. Smith and his wife Towana of Ocean Springs, MS; and many great nieces, and great nephews. Her husband of 29 years, Thomas W. Jester, died in 1984.