Geneva Ray Vandiver

On Monday, April 15, 2024, Geneva Ray Vandiver, loving wife and mother of four children, grandmother to seven, and great grandmother to nine passed away at the age of 89 years old in Selmer, TN. 

Geneva was born on January 19,1935, in Hardeman County, TN to John Dewey and Lovie Jane “Janie” Hodge Atkinson. On September 7, 1953, she married the love of her life, Roy Alvis Vandiver. She worked for Locke Brothers and a few other jobs but was mostly a stay at home mom, so she was able to travel on the pipeline following her husband. They raised four children, three sons, Larry (Gail) Vandiver; Mike (Susan) Vandiver; John (Pam) Vandiver; and one daughter, Minta (Jheri) Rhodes.

Geneva had a love for her family beyond comprehension. Her love showed in every act from being there for her kids to spending time with her grandkids. She loved to be outside and witness God’s beauty which is why she loved to work in her yard planting flowers. Her dream 50 years ago was to purchase the little rock house with the moon and star on the chimney and make it their home in Selmer, TN. She and her husband remodeled and added onto this little cottage home. Her love for family showed in all her work even down to the four hearts chiseled out of rock and placed above the doorway to represent her four children with two larger hearts chiseled out on each wall to represent her husband, Roy and herself. You could always hear her singing or humming old hymns that she grew up singing in church, even up to her last days when it was difficult. It is what soothed her soul. Her love for Jesus was obvious in the way she treated everyone. She was known for her fabulous meals at all family gatherings. She always said that you have to mix in a little love as one of the ingredients. Lastly, she will be remembered with the sweetest smile, gentle heart, and compassionate spirit.

Geneva was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Alvis Vandiver; her son, Mike Vandiver; her father, John Dewey Atkinson; her mother, Lovie Jane “Janie” Hodge Atkinson; her brother, J.D.(Sue) Atkinson, and her sister, Helen (Wess) Edmonds; grandson, Eric Roy Vandiver.                                        

She is survived by her three children, Larry (Gail) Vandiver, John (Pam) Vandiver, Minta (Jheri) Rhodes; daughter-in-law, Susan Vandiver; her seven grandchildren, Scotty (Niki) Vandiver, Chris (Beth) Vandiver, Ciera (Jesse Garner) Rhodes, Chelsea Rhodes, Jesse (Ashley) Vandiver, Casey (Sheridan) Vandiver, Gracie McAnnaly; nine great grandchildren, Trinity Vandiver, Lathen Vandiver, Jayden Vandiver, Benjamin Vandiver, Easton Howell, Liam Howell, Dawson Vandiver, Jude Vandiver, Zeb Vandiver and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.