Johnnie Levi Avance Jr.

June 13, 1959 - Aug. 12, 2012
SOUTH BEND - Johnnie Levi Avance Jr., 53, affectionately known as "Pookie", departed this life on Sunday, August 12, 2012. He was called home by our Lord and Savior. He was born June 13, 1959 to the union of Mary L. McKnight-Avance and Johnnie L. Avance Sr. in South Bend, Indiana. He graduated from John Adams High School and went to Anderson College on a football scholarship. There he met and married Tonia Ladner and from this union two children were born. He served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged. He leaves to cherish his memory one son, DeCarlos Avance of South Bend; two honorary sons, Terry McElvene Jr. and Cornell Scruggs of South Bend; one daughter, Mary Avance of Indianapolis; his father, Johnnie (Dorothy) Avance Sr. of South Bend; four sisters: Diane, Debra and Fredia Avance of South Bend and Lori Wright of Louisiana; ten brothers: Redis and Richard Cotton of Los Angeles, Ronnie (Dana) Cotton of Las Vegas, Michael (Linda) Avance of South Bend, Ronald and Donald Avance of South Bend and Carl Moore of South Bend, Rev. Gregory F. (Jackie) McKeel, Victor (Lanore) Evans and Willie (Carla) Evans of South Bend; sister, Myra Evans of South Bend, and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins and so many friends. There are so many more who he loved and who loved him. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary L. Avance; maternal grandparents, Richard and Lucille McKnight; paternal grandparents, William and Evelena Avance, and his uncles, William and Joseph Avance. Johnnie Levi Avance Jr.'s funeral services are being held at Clark O'Neal Funeral Home on Saturday, August 18, 2012, with viewing beginning at 10:00 a.m. and services starting at 11:00 a.m. Please visit our web-site at www.clarkoneal.com to sign his guest book. The Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home Inc. has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.