Mary Angelus Glenn Ivie

“A Partial History of the Life of My Mother”

by Carrie Ivie (sister of Lucy Glenn, Perry, Afred & WIll Ivie)

Oliver Hazard Perry (b.11-2-1816, d.at 72 yrs.of age, 1888) of Perryville, Perry County, Ala.,
was a Colonel of a state troop at age 19 in the Civil War. He took an active part in his church,
Old Ocmulgy Baptist, as deacon and Sunday school super intendant. His wife Lucy Allen Glenn
Perry was a lovely Christian character. She had living in her home during the Civil War 29
stranded people. She died at the age of 52 (1869).

Their sixth child Mary Angelus Perry (chose her mother's maiden name Glenn as her middle
name) was born November 13, 1851. A paragraph from a letter from my mother's youngest
brother reads “Mary was the happiest girl I ever knew, she always seemed to know the right
thing to say at the right time and place.’ She became a member of her father's church at the
age of 15, a happy Christian character making all who knew her comfortable and happy by her
sunny disposition and helpful ways, especially old folk who needed cheer. She attended the
Tuscaloosa Girls Seminary in her 18th year. She taught school, obtaining county licence
without taking any examination - only her verbal statements. The first public school after the
War (?).

She was married to Alfred Joseph Ivie, a self- made man of Marion, Ala., March 11, 1878.
They lived in his parents home and he was devoted to his family. Grandmother (Alfred's
mother: Caroline Mahaley or Mahala Caroline Holifield Ivie) eventually moved to Sheffield, Ala.
in 1889 with us and lived to be 90 years old. There were seven children, two of which died at
the age of 18 months. Although we never had any great means, Mother always seemed to be
able to set a bountiful table, and no matter how late the hour, or how many came in she could
serve an appetizing meal and make guests feel cordially welcome.

Our home in Sheffield was known as the Traveling Preacher's Home. None ever came too poor
or at too inconvenient an hour to receive a cordial welcome, good food and a comfortable
room for days or weeks. My father's friends were welcomed and each child felt free to invite
any friend to any meal and spend the night or weeks. What we had we shared, never thinking
to be cramped or ashamed of what we had every day...a happy, comfortable, carefree home
where everyone loved company and many friends delighted to come again and again.

My mother seemed to always be in the right place when we children came from school to tell
our troubles, get consolation and a bite to eat. It seems we were always hungry and there was
always something good to eat to be found - and shared with any hungry playmate. Yet when
there was sickness, birth, death or need of any kind - for food or clothes, the needy called and
Mother was always ready to help. She was called before the doctor, also instead of the doctor.
When anyone needed special care she seemed to know what to do. A father sick with
pneumonia was believed to have been saved by her able care of the whole family who were
strangers in our town. One of the babies, a girl of three, was brought into our home and cared
for as one of us until the family were on their feet again. In another family the mother and new
baby were both thought to be at death's door and the baby was in our home for weeks. These
are only a few of the Charitable deeds of hers. I am not capable of telling of her church
activities. She always taught Jr. Boys ( Will Carson now of Africa) was one of her Bible School
boys. She always found time to work in the Mission Circle, Ladies Aide, W.C.T.U.(Women's Christian Temperance Union) & other activities for the betterment of humanity.