Lavonda Womack

Lavonda Walters Womack, 73, of Chula peacefully passed away surrounded by family on Friday, November 22, 2024. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024 at Tifton First Methodist Church with Reverend Robert Couey officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Chula with Rev. Aaron Frasier and Rev. Larry Layfield presiding. The family will receive friends beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of Tifton First Methodist Church. 

 Pallbearers will be Wes Walters, Jake Walters, Todd Damato, John Fleming, Trey Womack, and David Walker.

 Lavonda was affectionately known as Nonni to her nine grandchildren and Nondi to her nieces and nephews. She was born in Ocilla, GA on October 4, 1951, to the late Lorie Vinson Walters and Betty Joyce Tankersley Walters.  Along with her parents, she was also preceded in death by her brother, Wesley Troy Walters. She graduated from Irwin County High School in 1969. 

 Lavonda attended Valdosta State University and was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. During her time at VSU, she met the love of her life, Roger Womack. The couple married in 1972 and had three children in whom she took great pride. Deeply devoted to each other, the couple was married for almost 50 years before Roger passed away in 2021. 

 Lavonda was a faithful member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Chula. As a devoted Christian, Lavonda shared her deep faith with her children and grandchildren. For many years, Lavonda and others served on the Christmas church decorating committee. Lavonda also took pure joy in fellowship with her community. Her love of sharing her baked goods was well known, especially her lemon pies. She touched many through her cooking and sweet spirit. 

 Outside of her home, she worked for Tiftarea Academy in varying administrative capacities for many years before she retired in 2006 to help her husband and son manage Red Oak Sports and Red Oak Turf. In the early years of Tiftarea Academy, she could be attributed to being a main pillar of the foundation of the school. She was dedicated to any task needed, no matter how big or small. 

 Lavonda had a great love of sports as well. Her enthusiasm could be heard from the stands cheering for her children and grandchildren, many times with plastic jugs filled with rocks and air horns. In recognition of her love of Tiftarea Academy, the school recently honored her with the Lavonda Womack Spirit Store located in their newly completed athletic facility.

 Lavonda had a passion for gardening. She served as a member of the Gardenia Garden Club of Tifton. At her home, she spent many hours tending to her garden that brought joy to her family and neighbors. Each spring and summer, her garden produced the most beautiful flowers. The beauty of her dedication was portrayed in the bloom of her spring hydrangeas. She took pride in the transplantation of her grandmother’s Queen Anne’s Lace, including a letter she wrote that was published in Southern Living magazine about this family tradition. 

 She is survived by her three sons and their wives, Jason and Erin Womack of Chula, Justin and Meghan Womack of Valdosta, and John and Meredith Womack of Greensboro; her grandchildren, Kate Marie, Caroline, Griffin, Harrison, Hank, Beau, Brooks, Wilson, and Becker. She is also survived by her brother Wyndall Lorie Walters and his wife, Rhonda. 

 The family would like to express their deep gratitude and appreciation to the many healthcare workers and caregivers who provided assistance and loving care to Lavonda, especially her sister-in-law, Diane Womack.

 In lieu of flowers, the family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 293 Mt. Zion Church Road, Chula, GA 31733 or www.mtzionchula.org; or Holy Land Farms, 170 Adams Road, Chula, GA 31733 or holylandfarms.org. This was a vision that began with her late husband and family.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.