Obituary for Ivory Pernell Jennette III
Ivory Pernell Jennette, III, affectionately known as “Mike”, transitioned to eternal rest on Monday, January 16th, 2023 in Chesapeake. Born September 3rd, 1963, in Norfolk, VA, Mike was reared in a loving home and the middle child of the late Ivory P. Jennette Jr. and Raddie Williams Jennette.
Mike graduated from Indian River High School in 1981. After the completion of his high school diploma, he went on to further his studies in automotive mechanics at Tidewater Community College and the Automotive Training Institute. Through this additional education, he obtained a degree in Automotive Mechanics. He was a proud Brave, a math wiz, and a lover of all sports, specifically baseball and football, where he earned numerous awards and trophies for his supreme abilities. Mike was a running back for the Braves football team, and 2nd basemen on the baseball team.
With such a natural love for baseball, he became a devoted baseball player within the community. He enjoyed playing with several AAU and other minor league teams, as well as with New Calvary Baptist Church. His best played positions were 3rd base, shortstop, and pitcher. Even years after he discontinued playing baseball, he found joy in sharing his knowledge and skills by coaching intermediate baseball for his son, Keeland, and coaching basketball with his brother Andre, at the Cavalier Manor Recreation Center.
Mike grew up in New Calvary Baptist Church, his family church home, and later was baptized and severed in any capacity. Over the years, Mike was a part of the Brotherhood Men’s Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Sunday School Department, and even the Culinary Ministry. He loved playing Santa for the children during the Christmas holiday season or serving as a leader with his sister, Jay, during events with the Children’s Ministry. He volunteered his services and time often, until his health started to decline. Mike met Lorie Stringfield in 1985. They dated and married December 2nd, 1988, and they were later blessed with two children, Candunn and Keeland.
Early in Mike’s career he worked as a mechanic and grocery store manager. It was during this time that, Mike made lots of lifetime friends who he adopted as brothers, such as Ray Ricks, and Ed Gatling. He later changed careers and became a skilled Roofer with J.D. Miles Roofing Company. After a few years he accepted a position with Burton Roofing, where he retired after sustaining an injury in 2002.
After retiring from roofing and navigating a few health challenges, Mike began to adopt a new lifestyle with different hobbies and experiences. One of the most life changing events was the acceptance of his new transplant kidney on February 15th, 2012. Upon hearing the news and receiving his new kidney, affectionally known as “Whitney’s Kidney”, Mike praised God and thanked Him for a new lease on life without dialysis. Mike begun regularly volunteering again in church ministries, serving wherever he was needed. The kidney transplant allowed him to foster and create new memories and experiences, such as his love for fishing. On summer nights he would often spend the night at Lynnhaven Fishing Pier, just to bring home a bucket of spots and crockers for dinner the next day. As much as Mike loved fishing, with himself, cousin Phil, father in law Haywood, or his birthday buddy Inez, he also loved grilling out with his family. He considered himself the “BBQ Rib Master”, and often took his sister Jay, and wife Lorie through his version of “Grilling 101”. This was the infamous activity that natured the Jennette bond down through the years.
Family always brought Mike overwhelming joy throughout the duration of his life. It didn’t matter if it was the Stevensons or Williams cousins, just like his sister Jay and brother Andre, they always put the love of family first. He would always reflect on the meaningful moments and rehearse their importance to anyone willing to listen. It always meant so much to him to see his mom in the stands, supporting him at his baseball and football games as a child, being a mini father figure to his brother Andre, being best childhood friends with his sister JJ, and learning the best business acumen from his father Ivory. As he grew older those meaningful simple moments of watching COPS with his mom, raving about something Jay cooked, and traveling with Andre took precedence in his heart.
His wife Lorie vowed to care for him, and she did, always caring, providing, and being there to support his every need along the way. He also valued his son and daughter and their journeys to success. His reflections took you on a journey to his experiences of Emporia, Virginia, where he rode motorcycles with his cousins, warmed the bed for his uncles, fished back in the woods, and built lasting relationships with his Grandma and Grandpa. Mike always had a story to tell.
Anyone who knew Mike knew he was a diehard Pittsburg Steelers Fan passed down to all the Jennette men. He looked forward to the start of the NFL season and often made his own predictions; with hopes for the Steelers to win the Super Bowl. He and his best friend Don “Dog”, a Dallas Cowboys fan, couldn’t wait for the infamous yearly rivalry game. Mike enjoyed traveling to see professional games. One of his most memorable moments was a playoff game in 2008 between the Steelers and Cowboys in unprecedented minus 4-degree weather. Steelers went on to win Super Bowl XLIII, needless to say Mike felt his bragging rights were spot on!
Another memorable time in Mike's life was his trip to Las Vegas with Andre, Darrell, Phil, and Troy on deck to see the Raiders game, and the fellows mission was "don't lose Mike or else". Those memories were sacred to him, and anyone who knew him, understood the unique person that he was. From Frankie Beverly and a love for jazz to sports, from fishing to cars, from family to friends, Ivory P. Jennette, III had a life full of endless love and support.
Mike was a warrior with a witty sense of humor. He was a loving Husband, Father, Son, and Brother. Like everyone, his heart was broken by the unexpected death of his sister, Janaf Jennifer Jennette on December 22, 2022. Mike is also preceded in death by his father, Ivory P Jennette. Jr. He leaves to cherish his memory; loving Mother, Raddie W. Jennette, his devoted wife of 35 years, Lorie Jennette, adoring children Candunn and Keeland Jennette, of Chesapeake, VA, one brother Andre Jennette and wife Cynthia, two nieces Jessica and Brittany and one nephew Greg of Charlotte, NC. Mike also had extended siblings through marriage, Christine Ricks (Ray), Lisa Warren (Earl), Cynthia Thornton (James), and four brothers Robert, Roderick, Jerome, and Joseph. Mike had two best friends whom he loved like brothers, Ray Ricks (Chris) and Donald Cuffee (Carolyn) and two special cousins that also held a significant place, Charles “Phil” Wright (Paula) and Troy Harges (Erica), and a host of other relatives and friends. Ivory Pernell Jennette’s Legacy will live on because of the love, cherished memories, and devotion of everyone who loved him. Mike will be forever missed, but never forgotten.
Mike graduated from Indian River High School in 1981. After the completion of his high school diploma, he went on to further his studies in automotive mechanics at Tidewater Community College and the Automotive Training Institute. Through this additional education, he obtained a degree in Automotive Mechanics. He was a proud Brave, a math wiz, and a lover of all sports, specifically baseball and football, where he earned numerous awards and trophies for his supreme abilities. Mike was a running back for the Braves football team, and 2nd basemen on the baseball team.
With such a natural love for baseball, he became a devoted baseball player within the community. He enjoyed playing with several AAU and other minor league teams, as well as with New Calvary Baptist Church. His best played positions were 3rd base, shortstop, and pitcher. Even years after he discontinued playing baseball, he found joy in sharing his knowledge and skills by coaching intermediate baseball for his son, Keeland, and coaching basketball with his brother Andre, at the Cavalier Manor Recreation Center.
Mike grew up in New Calvary Baptist Church, his family church home, and later was baptized and severed in any capacity. Over the years, Mike was a part of the Brotherhood Men’s Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Sunday School Department, and even the Culinary Ministry. He loved playing Santa for the children during the Christmas holiday season or serving as a leader with his sister, Jay, during events with the Children’s Ministry. He volunteered his services and time often, until his health started to decline. Mike met Lorie Stringfield in 1985. They dated and married December 2nd, 1988, and they were later blessed with two children, Candunn and Keeland.
Early in Mike’s career he worked as a mechanic and grocery store manager. It was during this time that, Mike made lots of lifetime friends who he adopted as brothers, such as Ray Ricks, and Ed Gatling. He later changed careers and became a skilled Roofer with J.D. Miles Roofing Company. After a few years he accepted a position with Burton Roofing, where he retired after sustaining an injury in 2002.
After retiring from roofing and navigating a few health challenges, Mike began to adopt a new lifestyle with different hobbies and experiences. One of the most life changing events was the acceptance of his new transplant kidney on February 15th, 2012. Upon hearing the news and receiving his new kidney, affectionally known as “Whitney’s Kidney”, Mike praised God and thanked Him for a new lease on life without dialysis. Mike begun regularly volunteering again in church ministries, serving wherever he was needed. The kidney transplant allowed him to foster and create new memories and experiences, such as his love for fishing. On summer nights he would often spend the night at Lynnhaven Fishing Pier, just to bring home a bucket of spots and crockers for dinner the next day. As much as Mike loved fishing, with himself, cousin Phil, father in law Haywood, or his birthday buddy Inez, he also loved grilling out with his family. He considered himself the “BBQ Rib Master”, and often took his sister Jay, and wife Lorie through his version of “Grilling 101”. This was the infamous activity that natured the Jennette bond down through the years.
Family always brought Mike overwhelming joy throughout the duration of his life. It didn’t matter if it was the Stevensons or Williams cousins, just like his sister Jay and brother Andre, they always put the love of family first. He would always reflect on the meaningful moments and rehearse their importance to anyone willing to listen. It always meant so much to him to see his mom in the stands, supporting him at his baseball and football games as a child, being a mini father figure to his brother Andre, being best childhood friends with his sister JJ, and learning the best business acumen from his father Ivory. As he grew older those meaningful simple moments of watching COPS with his mom, raving about something Jay cooked, and traveling with Andre took precedence in his heart.
His wife Lorie vowed to care for him, and she did, always caring, providing, and being there to support his every need along the way. He also valued his son and daughter and their journeys to success. His reflections took you on a journey to his experiences of Emporia, Virginia, where he rode motorcycles with his cousins, warmed the bed for his uncles, fished back in the woods, and built lasting relationships with his Grandma and Grandpa. Mike always had a story to tell.
Anyone who knew Mike knew he was a diehard Pittsburg Steelers Fan passed down to all the Jennette men. He looked forward to the start of the NFL season and often made his own predictions; with hopes for the Steelers to win the Super Bowl. He and his best friend Don “Dog”, a Dallas Cowboys fan, couldn’t wait for the infamous yearly rivalry game. Mike enjoyed traveling to see professional games. One of his most memorable moments was a playoff game in 2008 between the Steelers and Cowboys in unprecedented minus 4-degree weather. Steelers went on to win Super Bowl XLIII, needless to say Mike felt his bragging rights were spot on!
Another memorable time in Mike's life was his trip to Las Vegas with Andre, Darrell, Phil, and Troy on deck to see the Raiders game, and the fellows mission was "don't lose Mike or else". Those memories were sacred to him, and anyone who knew him, understood the unique person that he was. From Frankie Beverly and a love for jazz to sports, from fishing to cars, from family to friends, Ivory P. Jennette, III had a life full of endless love and support.
Mike was a warrior with a witty sense of humor. He was a loving Husband, Father, Son, and Brother. Like everyone, his heart was broken by the unexpected death of his sister, Janaf Jennifer Jennette on December 22, 2022. Mike is also preceded in death by his father, Ivory P Jennette. Jr. He leaves to cherish his memory; loving Mother, Raddie W. Jennette, his devoted wife of 35 years, Lorie Jennette, adoring children Candunn and Keeland Jennette, of Chesapeake, VA, one brother Andre Jennette and wife Cynthia, two nieces Jessica and Brittany and one nephew Greg of Charlotte, NC. Mike also had extended siblings through marriage, Christine Ricks (Ray), Lisa Warren (Earl), Cynthia Thornton (James), and four brothers Robert, Roderick, Jerome, and Joseph. Mike had two best friends whom he loved like brothers, Ray Ricks (Chris) and Donald Cuffee (Carolyn) and two special cousins that also held a significant place, Charles “Phil” Wright (Paula) and Troy Harges (Erica), and a host of other relatives and friends. Ivory Pernell Jennette’s Legacy will live on because of the love, cherished memories, and devotion of everyone who loved him. Mike will be forever missed, but never forgotten.