Georgia college president dies of COVID-19 at age 57

HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. — The campus of North Georgia Technical College is mourning the death of its president, Dr. Mark Ivester.

The 57-year-old died Saturday from COVID-19, the college wrote in a Facebook post.

“Once again, please continue to pray for Eleanor and his entire family,” the post said.

Gov. Brian Kemp said in a tweet that he, first lady Marty Kemp and their daughters “are praying for the loved ones, colleagues, and community” of Ivester following his death.

According to the Acree-Davis funeral home, Ivester died at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton.

As of Sunday afternoon, there were a total of 294,314 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 6,333 total deaths in Georgia, according to the Department of Health.

In Habersham County, there were a total of 1,444 cases and 63 deaths.

More than 100 people posted on North Georgia Technical College’s Facebook post about Ivester’s death. Many expressed their condolences to the school and his family.

“My prayers are with the Ivester and NGTC families. Mark was such a tremendous leader who had the students' best interest always at heart,” one person wrote.

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