Ivy Bodiford is usually mentioned in connection with Kenneth Copeland, but she lived most of her life far from public attention. She wasn’t part of television ministry, didn’t build a platform, and didn’t seek visibility through her former marriage.
What’s known about Ivy comes mostly from records, family accounts, and local history rather than headlines.
Ivy Bodiford’s Early Life
Ivy Bodiford, also known as Ivy Sandra Bodiford Copeland Sharp and often called Sandy, was born on July 5, 1937, in Fort Worth, Texas.
She grew up there and attended Poly High School, graduating in 1955. Her parents were Ivy Weldon and Edna Fay Bodiford. Public details about her childhood are limited, but she remained closely tied to Fort Worth throughout her life.
Marriage to Kenneth Copeland
Ivy met Kenneth Copeland while they were both still young. He was one year older than her, and they married in the late 1950s.
Their daughter, Terri, was born in 1957. The marriage ended shortly after, lasting around three years in total. Ivy and Kenneth divorced in 1958, long before Copeland became a nationally known televangelist.
At the time of their separation, Kenneth Copeland had not yet built the ministry or public persona he would later become known for.
Life After Divorce and Family
In 1960, Ivy married Bill Sharp. Together, they had two more children, Gary and Becky. Her children remained in the Fort Worth area, and Ivy stayed closely involved in their lives.
Family members and friends described her as warm, approachable, and deeply caring. She was known for helping people without making a show of it, often stopping to help strangers and offering support wherever she could.
Within her family, she was described as steady, present, and deeply devoted to her children.
Death
Ivy Bodiford passed away on June 20, 2022, just weeks before her 85th birthday. She was 84 years old at the time of her death.
No public cause of death was released. She was survived by her children, grandchildren, and extended family, including her brother John Vanston.
Her life remained centered around family and community rather than public attention.
Kenneth Copeland and the Public Contrast
Kenneth Copeland, born December 6, 1936, in Lubbock, Texas, went on to build one of the most visible and controversial televangelist ministries in the United States.
He became known for preaching prosperity theology and amassed significant wealth through his ministry, including private aircraft and multiple luxury properties. Over the years, his finances and lifestyle have drawn ongoing criticism and public scrutiny.
That public trajectory stands in sharp contrast to Ivy Bodiford’s life, which stayed local, private, and largely undocumented outside of family circles.
Where Ivy Bodiford Fits in the Story
Ivy Bodiford’s connection to Kenneth Copeland represents a very early chapter in his life, not the public figure he later became.
Her story isn’t about controversy, influence, or public power. It’s about a woman who lived quietly, raised her children, and stayed rooted in her community long after her brief marriage to a future televangelist ended.
What’s known about her remains limited because she chose a life that stayed that way.
