Renvia Lander

Renvia Jernigan Lander
1933-2019
Renvia Jernigan Lander passed away peacefully on July 1st, 2019. She was born Renvia Ann Jernigan to Bess Tully Jernigan and Daniel Snead Jernigan in Andalusia, Alabama on September 13, 1933. Renvia is survived by her daughter Melissa McCollum Moss, her son-in-law Peter Chadwick "Chad", and grandsons Chadwick and Reed. She is also survived by stepdaughters Laurie Lander Hart, Laurie Lander Mankin, Lynsie Lander and their children and grandchildren.
In 1934 after her father's death from tuberculosis, Renvia and her mother moved back to her mother's maternal grandparents' home in Cuero, Texas. She grew up in a loving home with her mother, her aunts Jane and Frances Tully, and her grandparents, Guilford and Edward Tully. She was doted on by all. A petite tomboy with long red braids, Renvia was happiest when she was running around the pastures with friends, climbing a tree with an apple and a book to read, or swimming against her grandfather's wishes in the livestock watering tanks.
Renvia graduated high school at age 16 and graduated from Southern Methodist University 4 years later. SMU was a time of friendship and fun with her Kappa Kappa Gamma sisters. After college, Renvia moved to Houston to work and met her first husband, Leonard Franklin "Frank" McCollum, Jr.Their first home was in Hobbs, New Mexico. From there, they moved to Valdosta, Georgia, where their only child Melissa Renvia McCollum, was born in December, 1959. After Valdosta, Renvia,Frank and Melissa moved to Winter Park, Florida and then to Houston in 1965. Renvia volunteered at St John's School, St. John the Divine, and as a Bayou Bend docent; she chaired the Museum of Fine Arts Houston gala, and in the Garden Club of Houston she served as President, as the first co-chair of the Florescence Flower Show, andwas a Flower Arranging Judge Emeritus. She adored her years as co-owner of RVG, Jr, a unique flower, plant and gift shop, with Letty Knapp, Sally Avery, Betty Kyle Moore, and the late Sarah Bergner.
Renvia married Charles William "Buddy" Lander in 1980. She was delighted to expand her family with Buddy's daughters, Leslie, Laurie and Lynsie. Renvia and Buddy loved to travel and entertain, always welcoming friends as family. In addition to being a constant presence in her two grandsons' lives in Houston, Renvia truly treasured her friends and her flowers, fearlessly pruning branches and vines in vacant lots, artfully arranging blue ribbon bouquets, and cheerfully sharing her knowledge.
Renvia loved her faith, serving with joy the Episcopal church wherever she lived. She served as the Parish Administrator and on the Vestry of her beloved Grace Episcopal Church in Cuero when she and Buddy moved into her mother's home in 2000 . Her sparkle will be missed, and she would wish each of us who loved her to raise a glass of champagne and enjoy a dark chocolate truffle in her memory.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 2nd at 2:00 pm at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77019. A private interment will be held prior to the service. For those wishing to make a charitable contribution in Renvia's memory, please consider The Garden Club of Houston , 4212 San Felipe St., PMB 486, Houston, TX 77027-2902, or Grace Episcopal Church, 102 Live Oak, Cuero, TX 77954.