Mr. Lee Hudson Avant, Sr., affectionately known as “Hut,” age 90, of Sandersville passed away on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at his residence. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 29, at 11:00 A.M. in the First Baptist Church of Sandersville with burial in the Washington County Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Reverend Lee Lacey will officiate. Pallbearers will be Ben Avant, Hudson Avant, Jamie Avant, Dean Bickham, Drew Still, and Jess Williams. The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 28 from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the May and Smith Funeral Home.
Mr. Avant was a native of Sandersville, son of the late Chancey Binion “C.B.” Avant, Sr., and the late Effie Tanner Avant. He was a graduate of the Sandersville High School. Hut possessed an entrepreneurial spirt that manifested early in life when selling peanuts and operating snow cone stands at the age of six. Mr. Avant always refused to abandon his visions for the future despite any obstacles or setbacks. He enjoyed sharing stories of his youthful adventures, escapades, and jobs. Hut held great respect for craftmanship and was a proud partner of the Lacy Brothers as a carpenter and painter. Mr. Avant met the love of his life, Joanne, in Tennille while watching the Nancy Hanks Train enter the train depot one Sunday evening. One of their earliest dreams became reality when they opened the Dairylane in 1954. It was common site to see Hut working diligently on his seasonal flower beds around the Dairylane and his other businesses around town. Over his lifetime, Mr. Avant sought new business opportunities for himself, his family, and others interested in pursuing the “American Dream” of working hard and providing affordable goods and services for those in his community. His love for country and family served as his motivation and drive to encourage others to make the most of each day and use their talents and skills to the fullest. Hut’s legacy will be one valuing hard work as a family patriarch and noble countryman, who never focused on being in the spotlight, but being a man of his word. Mr. Avant was preceded in death by his siblings, Dorothy Barrow (Ed), Paul Avant, Virginia Meeks (Lamar), C.B. Avant, Jr., June Vigilione (Tony), Frances Holmes (David), Margaret Roberts, (Wimpy), and James Avant (Geneva); brother-in-law, Doug Samples; son, James Binion “Benny” Avant (Sheila); and sons-in-law, Jimmy Williams and John Barker.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Joanne Wicker Avant; sister, Faye Samples of Suwanee; children, Terri Barker, Lee Avant (Kelli), Toni Durkin (Ralph), Jo Lynn Still (Andy), and Grace Meyers (Tom); grandchildren, Jess Williams (Leslie), Leanne Williams (Chris), Jessica Avant, Jamie Avant, Amy Albright (Chris), Hudson Avant (Rachel), Ben Avant, Laura Woodard (Woody), Regan Durkin, Drew Still, Dean Bickham and Jordan Bickham; and great-grandchildren, Gambill Williams, Maggie Williams, Abe Williams, Charlie Hancock, Tucker Hancock, Annalee McGowan, Lillie McGowan, Henry McGowan, Austin Albright, Wyatt Albright, Tori Albright, Noah Avant, Lillie Meier, Georgia Avant, Harrison Woodard, and Emma Grace Woodard.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that donations be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org/donate, the First Baptist Church of Sandersville, 316 Mathis Circle, Sandersville, Georgia 31082, or the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church c/o Hodges Hartley, 270 News Bridge Road, Tennille, Georgia 31089.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May & Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.