Vernon Dozier Avent

RALEIGH – Heaven got a little brighter on January 5, 2023, when Dorothy Vernon Dozier Avent (Vernon) died peacefully at home. Vernon was born in the Nash County community of Salem in 1928 to the late William Earnest and Maggie Armstrong Dozier. She and her four older sisters enjoyed a happy childhood on various farms, and she delighted family members over the years with their girlhood experiences and mischievous antics.Vernon graduated from Red Oak High School and began her professional career at Peoples Bank in Rocky Mount. On January 8, 1950, she and Jack Avent were married and lived in the Aventon community for most of their married life. There, they devoted their lives to family, Fishing Creek Baptist Church and to the surrounding community. Vernon later used her banking experience to work in various bookkeeping jobs. Four of the last six years of Vernon’s life were spent happily with Jack in Nashville, where they found a welcoming community at Nashville Baptist Church. For the last two plus years, Vernon has lived in Raleigh near her three doting children, and where she enjoyed visits from grandchildren and great-grandchildren, extended family, dear old friends, and new friends in the Bishops Park community.Faith, family and friends were the hallmarks of Vernon’s life of service. She made a profession of faith when she was eight years old and throughout her 94 years sought to know Jesus Christ better and follow Him more closely. Her greatest joys of church life included a group of young women called the Acteens and Women’s Missionary Union. Her desire to serve was inherited from her parents, and her heart for missions was born in the WMU meetings she attended with her mother as a child and as she watched her parents live out their faith without using words. She also spent years in the church choir, as a deacon, and as a Sunday School teacher, finishing up this particular ministry at age 90. Vernon was known by many names—Mama, Nana, Aunt Vernon, Cousin Vernon, Friend, the Queen, Mentor and Prayer Warrior. She was honored by each title and gave her all to each role. She was forever generous of spirit, giving joyfully of her time, talents and material goods. Jack often teased her that he was afraid he was going to start to bed one night and find she had given their bed away. She gave generously and without expectation to those she saw in need. She also gave her opinion and advice without hesitation, whether asked for or not. Her great zest for life was contagious. Her sense of humor was epic; her laughter, infectious; and her mischief was legendary. No one liked a good practical joke more than she did! Vernon was preceded in death by her parents; by husband Jack just two years ago; and by sisters, Pattie Mae Baker, Annie Ruth Whitley, Margaret Willie Batchelor and Ernestine Jenkins, and their spouses. She will live on through an immense treasure of friends and her loving family: her three beloved children, Marsha Avent Van Hecke (Jim) of Raleigh, Susan Avent Rackley (Randy) of Holly Springs and Elliott Avent (Krista) of Raleigh; Nana’s adoring grandchildren: Caitlin Van Hecke (Brad Howell) of Asheville, Lindsey Button (Gabe) of Fuquay-Varina, Justin Van Hecke (Jody) of Bluffton, SC, and Mark Rackley (Mackenzie) of Raleigh; and precious great-grands who she delighted in spending time with: Parker Van Hecke, Quinn Elliott Button, Brooks Van Hecke, Maddox Button, Jack Finn Howell, Hayes Van Hecke and Dottie Grace Button, who was born on December 31, 2022, and gave her great-Nana a gift she never expected—to have a grandchild named after her. Nana’s eighth great-grandchild is expected in March. Vernon is also survived by a loving multitude of nieces and nephews, who were so attentive to their last connection to this generation, and a great host of multi-generational friends, many of whom consider themselves “family” because Vernon treated them that way. A Funeral Service to celebrate Vernon’s life will be held on Saturday, January 14, at 2:00 PM at Nashville Baptist Church, 512 E. Washington Street, Nashville, NC 27856, with Rev. Kenny Byrd officiating. Burial will follow the service at Fishing Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. A visitation will be from 12:45 PM to 1:45 PM prior to the service in the Sanctuary of Nashville Baptist Church. Vernon’s children provided her with fresh flowers every week during the past two years, as it was her wish to have her flowers while she was living. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Vernon’s memory to Nashville Baptist Church, 512 E. Washington Street, Nashville, NC 27856, or to Fishing Creek Baptist Church (c/o Melanie Lucero, 547 Harrison Rd, Nashville, NC 27856). Vernon has entered into the peace of life eternal. She will now live on in the hearts of those who cherish their memories of her in the countless ways she loved and cared for them. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.