William "Bill" Avery, Jr.

William “Bill” Louis Avery Jr, 78, of Collins, GA passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 26, 2024. He was born in Bennington, VT to the late William and Oveda Avery and was a beloved dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle, and great-uncle. Above all he enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Bill was a Vietnam war veteran who proudly served in the US Army from 1968-1976. After the Army, Bill was employed with Operating Engineers (Local 474) out of Savannah, GA as a Heavy Equipment Operator. He loved what he did and after 30+ years he retired. After his retirement Bill worked as a maintenance man for the City of Collins for a few years, and fully retired after 10 years with the Tattnall County Maintenance Department. 

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Janice “Eve” Lyneve Avery; daughter, Penny Lynn Peterson; sisters, Brenda Kay Driggers and Linda Carol Scott; and brother, Leon Ray Avery. 

He is survived by his daughters, Brittany Avery Coursey (Ben) of Collins, GA, Tonya Avery Torres of Statesboro, GA, Pamela Strickland (Doug) of Millen, GA, Cindy Jackson (Danny) of Nahunta, GA, Tressa Morris (Toby) of Perkins, GA, Charlotte Holcomb (Larry) of Dallas, NC, and Audrea Edwards (Scott) of Colorado Springs, CO.; grandchildren, Grace Coursey of Collins, GA, Kayla Kitchens of Sylvania, GA, Kaitlin Freeman of Sylvania, GA, Mary Kandice Avery-Millen of Statesboro, GA, Kristen Avery-Millen of Reidsville, GA, Kimberly Webb (Nathan) of St. Augustine, Fl, Macy Hammock (Joe) of Girard, Ga, Jessica Carter of Guyton, GA, Christopher Farmer (Jenny) of Charleston, SC, Carrie Brown of Perkins, GA, Andrew Hammock (Kelly) of Statesboro, GA, Billy Farmer of Nahunta, GA, Joseph Brown of Dallas, NC, Kenneth Brown of Perkins, GA, Kaitlyn Baldree of Seattle, WA, Jonathon Brown (Kelsey) of Waynesboro, GA, Sarah Ogletree of Colorado Springs, CO, Toby Morris Jr. (Barbara) of Perkins, GA, Deven Strickland of Millen GA, and Hailey Morris of Perkins, GA; and several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 

He also leaves behind a beloved woman dear to his heart, Helen Ferguson of Statesboro, GA; and special friends that were a part of his life: Ashlyn Johnson, Ron Boney, and Allen Carnes. 

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, from 4-6pm at Carlson and Riggs Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held in Guyton Cemetery on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 1pm. 

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in Bill’s memory to the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, Georgia