Edgar Wayne Avery

Mr. E. Wayne Avery, age 89, beloved husband of the late, Ina Crowe Avery of Soperton passed away on Thursday morning, October 23, 2025 at Meadows Park Health and Rehabilitation Center in Vidalia.

Born in Emanuel County, he was the youngest and last living of six children born to the late Ernest Wright Avery and Maggie Belle Foskey Avery. He grew up in Emanuel County and was a graduate of Adrian High School, Class of 1954, where he was the Class President. After high school, he attended Georgia Tech and Georgia State in Atlanta and Georgia Southern in Statesboro. In 1958, he married Fulton County native, Ina Lou Crowe. The newlyweds lived in Atlanta for a short time before moving to Vidalia in 1959. Mr. Avery began a career in the Textile and Apparel Industry, in 1957, with Oxford Industries, from where he retired in 1997 as Executive Vice President of Finance. After retiring with forty years at Oxford Industries he was recruited by A & C Apparel Intl. in Vidalia to fill the position of Chief Financial Officer for an additional five years.

While living and working in Vidalia, Mr. Avery served as President of the Vidalia All Sports Booster Club, the Civitan Club as was the Troop Leader for Cub Scout Troop No. 945. He and his wife were members of the First Methodist Church of Vidalia as well as Charter Members of Grace United Methodist Church where he served as Chairman of the Board.

In 2006, Mr. and Mrs. Avery moved to Soperton to be near family. Upon arriving in Treutlen County, they joined the First United Methodist Church of Soperton, where they immersed themselves in church activities and outreach, to include him leading Bible Study and teaching Sunday School.

Above all other interests, Mr. and Mrs. Avery were the doting grandparents who cherished any time that could be spent with their family. The Averys were avid fans of the Georgia Southern Eagles football team, where they were season ticket holders for thirty- three years. In addition to his support of the Georgia Southern sports programs, Mr. Avery enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves, Georgia Tech Football, tracing family genealogy and nurturing the plants around his home.

Mr. Avery had served in the United States Air Force Reserves.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Avery is preceded in death by his wife of sixty- one years, Ina Crowe Avery, who passed away in 2020, his siblings, Natha Lodesky, Lanelle Wyatt, LaFon Avery, Ernestine Wilson and Audrey Faye Brantley.

He leaves behind, their sons, David Avery (Lisa), Soperton, GA, Alan Avery (Nancy), Greenville, NY, Richard Avery (Kim), Dacula, GA and his beloved grandchildren, Meredith Avery, Statesboro, GA, Katie Avery, Burbank, CA, Lauren Avery, Statesboro, GA, Chandler Avery (Mary Margaret), Spartanburg, SC, Allison Avery Nall (Rolland), Greenville, SC and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a. m. on Monday, October 27, 2025 at the Soperton Methodist Church with the Dr. David Whitworth officiating.

Mr. Avery will be laid to rest beside his wife in Lakeview Memorial Gardens, 4969 GA Highway 15, Vidalia, GA

Serving as pallbearers will be: Blake Dennard, Scott Drennon, Keith Clark, John Koon, David Onstott, Roger Onstott, Trey Truett and R. J. Dennard.

His family will receive friends on Sunday from 6:00 – 8:00 p. m. at Sammons Funeral Home or friends and family may call and make deliveries at the home of his son and daughter in law, David and Lisa Avery in Soperton.

Floral tributes are appreciated or contributions in his memory may be made to the Soperton Methodist Church, 529 2nd Street, Soperton, GA 30457

Please share a memory, leave a condolence message and sign the online guest register at www.sammonsfuneralhome.com

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