William W Avant Sr

Mr. William Wylie Avant Sr., age 84, passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2023.  A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held on Thursday, March 9 ^th at 11:00 a.m. at Deepstep Methodist Church with burial at 1:00 p.m. in Baldwin Memorial Gardens in Milledgeville.  Reverend Nathan Hodges will officiate.  Serving as pallbearers will be Mr. Avant's grandsons and grandsons-in-law. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at 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 graduated from Sandersville High School and attended Georgia Southern College. In 1959, Mr. Avant began a career in civil service with Warner Robins Airforce Base working in civil engineering until his retirement in 1993.  Following work on the base, he worked for various military contractors.  During his life in Warner Robins, William and Betty Jane were active members of Northview United Methodist Church where he was active with the United Methodist Men's group and served the church in numerous leadership roles.  He formerly coached Warner Robins little league baseball.  Mr. Avant was a talented carpenter, a good mechanic and was basically considered a "jack of all trades".  He loved to fish, especially at his lake house on lake Sinclair.  In addition to his parents, Mr. Avant is predeceased by his wife, Betty Jane Johnson Avant.

Survivors include his children, Paula A. Butts of Sugar Valley, William W. Avant Jr. and his wife Janet of Sandersville and Shelia A. Smith of Deepstep; grandchildren, Shanna Butts, Stacey Sweklo (John), Stephanie Gray (Derek), Michelle Kerlin (Nathan), Julie Daring (B.J.), William Avant III (Mariah), Valerie Avant, Connor Smith, Logan Smith and Mallory Smith (Nathan Hodges); seven great-grandchildren; and siblings, Larry Avant, David Avant and his wife Sandra all of Deepstep and Brenda Caruthers and her husband (Randy) of Savannah.

Donations may be made to the donor's favorite charity in remembrance of William W. Avant Sr.

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.  Leave and online condolence at www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com