Terri Avant Williams Barker

Mrs. Terri Avant Williams Barker, age 72, of Laurel Drive in Sandersville, passed away Thursday, January 16, 2025.  A funeral service celebrating her life will be held on Monday, January 20th at 2:00 p.m., at First Baptist Church of Sandersville, with burial in Washington County Memorial Gardens.  Reverend Lee Lacey and Reverend Andy Yates will officiate.  Her nephews Ben Avant, Hudson Avant, Jamie Avant, Drew Still and Dean Bickham will serve as pallbearers.  Terri's family will receive friends at May and Smith Funeral Home on Sunday, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Terri was a native and lifelong resident of Sandersville, daughter of the late Lee Hudson “Hut” Avant Sr.  and the late Joanne Wicker Avant.  Terri graduated from Washington County High School.  She spent much of her childhood working at the Dairy Lane, her family's business. The oldest of 6 children, she adopted a caring and motherly disposition, which she carried throughout her life.  Terri graduated from Georgia College with a Bachelor’s of Education.  She later obtained her Master’s Degree in Special Education.  Terri spent her working career with the Washington County Board of Education, as a primary education teacher at T.J. Elder Primary, and later in administration at the board office, where she retired.  In retirement she returned to her caregiving role and cared for many of her family members.  Terri was an excellent cook and loved sharing with family and friends.  She loved traveling and would often rate her favorite trip as one she and her husband Jimmy, along with friends, took traveling route 66 on motorcycles.  Later in life she embraced farm life, enjoying the outdoors, fishing and entertaining hunters with her husband John.  She loved gardening, her flowers, and transplanting plants from one garden to the next. Terri was a private and fiercely independent lady, never wanting to burden others.  She cherished her grandchildren and was crazy about her dogs, Chip and Ditchie.  In addition to her parents, Terri is also predeceased by her husbands’ James Stewart Williams and John Barker and her brother Benny Avant and his wife Sheila May Avant.

Survivors include her children, Jess Williams and his wife Leslie of Sandersville and Leanne Williams McGowan and her husband Chris of Augusta; grandchildren, Gambill Williams and his fiancé Savannah Johnson, Maggie Williams, Charlie Hancock, Annalee McGowan, Lillie McGowan, Henry McGowan, Abe Williams and Tucker Hancock; one great granddaughter, Kirby Williams and her siblings, Lee Avant and his wife Kelli, Toni A. Durkin and her husband Ralph, JoLynn A. Still and her husband Andy and Grace A. Meyers and her husband Tom.

Donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Sandersville, 316 Mathis Circle, Sandersville, GA. 31082.

Please leave an online condolence to www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.