Mr. William Wylie Avant, Sr., age 84, of Deepstep passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2023. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held on Thursday, March 9th at 11:00 A.M. in the Deepstep Methodist Church with burial at 1:00 P.M. in the Baldwin Memorial Gardens in Milledgeville. Reverend Nathan Hodges will officiate. Pallbearers will be Mr. Avant’s grandsons and grandsons-in-law. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 8th from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at the May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville.
Mr. Avant was born and reared in Deepstep, son of the late David M. Avant, Sr. and the late Minnie Frances Harris Avant. He was a graduate of the Sandersville High School and Georgia Southern College. William worked in civil service for 34 years with the Warner Robins Airforce Base as an Engineer. Mr. Avant would later be employed by various other military contractors. He was an active member of the Northview United Methodist Church, serving in the United Methodist Men’s Group and in numerous leadership roles. William donated considerable time coaching Little League Baseball. Mr. Avant was regarded as a talented carpenter, a gifted mechanic, and a “jack of all trades.” He enjoyed to fish, especially at his house on Lake Sinclair. William is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jane Johnson Avant.
Survivors include his children, Paula Avant Butts of Sugar Valley, William Wylie Avant, Jr. and wife Janet of Sandersville, and Shelia Avant Smith of Deepstep; grandchildren, Shannan Butts, Stacey Sweklo and husband John, Stephanie Gray and husband Derek, Michelle Kerlin and husband Nathan, Julie Daring and husband B.J., William Wylie Avant III and wife Mariah, Valerie Avant, Connor Smith, Logan Smith, and Mallory Smith and fiancé Nathan Hodges; seven great-grandchildren; and siblings, Larry Avant of Deepstep, David Avant and wife Sandra of Deepstep, and Brenda Caruthers and husband Randy of Savannah.
The family suggests that donations be made to the donor’s favorite charity.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.