Jerry David Kivett ’57

Jerry David Kivett ’57, 75, of Washington, N.C., died on June 26 from lung and brain cancer. Kivett is survived by his wife, Ann Kivett, 222 Austin Point Dr., Washington, NC 27889; their three sons, Dave (Beth), Mike (Kara), and Josh (Brooke); and their seven grandchildren, Durham, Sophie Ann, Jerry, Grace, Michael, Ryan, and Caroline. Kivett was born in 1935 in Greensboro, N.C., the only child of George Low Kivett of Ramseur, N.C., and Mary Decie Teague of Siler City, N.C. He graduated from Davidson in 1957, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. Following college, Kivett served in the U.S. Army for three years, much of that time in service with the Army Counter-Intelligence Corps. On July 15, 1960, he married Mary Ann Tayloe of Washington, N.C.-the beginning of a union that would last 50 years. After an honorable discharge from the Army, Kivett worked for Wells Fargo Armored Service before joining the U.S. Secret Service in September 1961. Just seven months after joining the Secret Service, Kivett was assigned to the protection detail of Vice President Lyndon Johnson in May of 1962. The following year, he was in the vehicle behind the vice president when President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. During President Johnson’s time in the White House, Kivett continued his service to the first family, serving as the lead agent for Lady Bird Johnson’s protective detail. Following his years in the White House, he served as special agent in charge of the Richmond and then Atlanta field offices. After retiring from the Secret Service in 1982, Kivett worked in corporate security with the Georgia Power Company. He retired from Georgia Power in 2000, but continued his service to others through community service and volunteer work. Kivett will be remembered as a man of unquestioned honesty, integrity, loyalty, and faith. His devotion to, and respect and abiding love for Ann will be forever honored by his family, especially his sons.