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- Clarion Ledger
April 21, 2011
W.B. Rives
W. B. "Boots" Rives, 85, died Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at University Medical Center. Visitation will be held at Alta Woods Baptist Church from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2011 and again on Friday, April 22nd at 10:00 a.m. with the funeral to follow at 11:00 at Alta Woods Baptist. Burial will be at Lakewood Memorial Park.Mr. Rives will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, as well as an outstanding businessman. But his greatest influence will be his lifelong dedication and service to Jesus Christ.Mr. Rives was a native of the Tuscola community in Leake County, though he had lived in Jackson for 56 years. He graduated from Lena High School and attended Clarke College and East Central Community College prior to World War II. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a radio operator flying supplies to military stations in the Pacific. After the war, he married Lucile "Lucy" Bassett and finished his bachelor's degree at Mississippi College in 1948. He taught Biology and coached basketball at Good Hope. He then received his master's degree at Ole Miss in 1951, then taught and coached basketball in Shelby, Mississippi until 1954, when he entered the banking profession. He moved his family to Jackson and sold real estate for Kimbrough Homes. In 1960, he began an investment company that financed the building of churches. For the next 30 years, through Church Building and Savings Association he financed new churches all across Mississippi. He expanded across the United States with the Church Finance company. In 1990, his church investment vision became Rives, Leavell Corporation that is still financing churches today. He financed 1551 churches in the 51 year history of the company. He began in five states and has now financed churches in 38 states for over $1 billion in total financing. He retired at the age of 80. For over 50 years, Mr. Rives was an active member of Alta Woods Baptist church in South Jackson. He was a deacon for over 40 years, serving as chairman four different times. He was instrumental in beginning the deacon visitation and outreach program. He was the director of an adult Sunday School department for many years and also taught a men's class. Mr. Rives was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed hunting and fishing. For many years, he raised cattle and horses. He was active in the Central Jackson Lion's Club and for over 30 years, he faithfully attended the Tuesday Men's Luncheon at First Baptist Church in Jackson. Mr. Rives is preceded in death by his wife, Lucy, of 63 years; by his parents, Frank N. and Olivia Rives and by his sister, Lexie Allen. He is survived by his children, Steve Rives and his wife Sue of Brandon; Cindy Coon and her husband Mark of Ridgeland;and Lisa Leavell and her husband Roland of Jackson; as well as his seven grandchildren and their spouses, Sarah Rives Otts and her husband Jason of St. Augustine, Florida; Jenni Rives Robinson and her husband J.D. of Raymond, Dan and Andrea Rives of Raymond, Anne Coon Albritton and her husband Michael of Canton, John Mark and Sharon Coon of Canton, Lucy Leavell and Ro Leavell of Jackson. He has ten great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers Frank T. Rives of Decatur and Ralph Rives of Madison. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given to the Olivia T. Rives Scholarship at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, c/o Development Department, 3939 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, Louisiana 70126.
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