Ida Lavender

Ida Mae Lavender, at 89 years of age, passed away at home in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2021.

Born October 22, 1932 in Boligee, Alabama, daughter of Cornelia Hamilton and Robert Stewart.  Ida attended Greene County Training School in Boligee, Alabama, where she graduated in 1952.  She attended and graduated from Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Alabama.

On December 26, 1954, she married her high school sweetheart, Nebraska Lavender and moved to Honshu, Japan where they were stationed at Yokota Air Force Base. After returning to the United States, she began to teach school throughout the state of Alabama. In 1966, the family was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. While there, Ida taught school in the Hillsborough School District. In 1968, the family was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base here in Denver, Colorado. Ida attended the University of Colorado at Denver, earning her Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling and Type D certification. Ida proudly worked at Smiley Jr. High, Grant Jr. High, Place Jr. High, Henry Middle School and Gove Middle School. Ida retired from Denver Public Schools in 1997.

Ida was an active member of Park Hill United Methodist Church for many years. She also pledged the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and was initiated in 1994.

Ida was known to support a number of charities and participated in numerous Susan G. Komen, “Race for the Cure” events. She also chaperoned Denver area students on several tours of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) across the country.

Ida was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and enjoyed giving with a “pay it forward” ideology to help others in need. She was also an avid walker and enjoyed participating annually in Denver’s Martin Luther King Parade with her family and grandchildren.

Ida was an ardent shopper and following her retirement, worked many years for Macy’s at Denver’s Cherry Creek Mall. Ida’s true passion was to travel. Her many trips abroad included Hawaii, Holland, Belgium, Paris, England, China, Egypt, Israel, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Aruba, St. Thomas and St. Kitts.

Ida is survived by daughter, Jann Peterson, of Denver, Colorado, son, Dewayne Lavender (Deanna) of LaVernia, Texas, three grandchildren; Kyle Peterson, of Aurora, Colorado, Jordan Peterson (Titi), of Aurora, Colorado, and Lindsey Lavender of The Netherlands, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Ida was preceded in death by her mother, Cornelia Hamilton, her father, Robert Stewart, her husband, Nebraska Lavender, her four brothers; William Mack, Saul Mack, Jessie Hamilton, Frank Hamilton, and her five sisters; Carrie Little, Bessie Reaves, Sarah Ivory, Johnnie Hughes and Harriet Carter.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.

The world has lost one of its shining stars but the heavens gleam brighter now. This remarkable, strong, loving and kind individual may be gone, but Ida will not be forgotten.

Service information below.

If you are unable to attend in person, please use the link below to live stream the service in the Horan & McConaty Family Chapel at 9:30am MST.

https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony/?c=f05c98c6-1211-47bb-b1c4-f7b88db2f29f

Please watch her life story below: