Avent - Person Sheet
Avent - Person Sheet
NameAVENT, Wallace Rhodes Jr. 
, 5G Grandson
, 5G GrandsonBirth Date10 Sep 1920
Birth PlaceAbilene, Taylor County, Texas
OccupationComputer Operations and Musician
Death Date12 Jun 2019 Age: 98
Death PlaceRidgeland, Madison County, Mississippi
FlagsServed in the Military, World War II
FatherAVENT, Wallace Rhodes Sr. (1897-1989)
MotherSTANLEY, Kate (1896-~1951)
Misc. Notes
Wallace (Wally) Rhodes Avent, 98, passed away peacefully at his home on June 12, 2019 with his daughters by his side.
Wally was born September 10, 1920, in Abilene, Texas. He manifested musical ability at a young age, and he became an accomplished musician playing the violin, piano, tuba, and upright bass, which earned him a scholarship at Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas. He followed his passion for music, playing the bass and arranging for many jazz bands during the Big Band era of the 1940-50's.
During that time, he was called to serve in the United States Army during World War II, earning several medals and becoming a corporal. He fought at the Battle of the Bulge, where he was captured in December, 1944, and was a prisoner of war in Germany until his release in April, 1945.
After his honorable discharge, Wally continued his musical career where he met his future wife, singer Joyce Flake, while working for the same band in St. Louis, Missouri. After his marriage to Joyce, a Jackson native, he accepted a computer operator internship with Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, and eventually retired 32 years later as manager of the department, with many achievements throughout his career. He was a driving force in establishing a chapter of the Data Processing Management Association in the State of Mississippi, and served a term as president.
Wally and Joyce were married for 53 years until her death in 2004.
He had a love for family, traveling, gardening and winemaking. He was the epitome of "The Greatest Generation," a humble man of wisdom, integrity, and honor.
He leaves behind two daughters, Bobbie Jo Myers (Brad), and Connie Suber; sister Dorothy Milam and brother John Avent (Joyce); grandchildren Laura Avent, Alice McBratney (Thomas), Jessica Casaver-Inman (Mike), Christina Myers Rank (Jim), and Melissa Craig (Conway); great-grandchildren Jackson, Banks, Aubrey, and Lee.
Wally was born September 10, 1920, in Abilene, Texas. He manifested musical ability at a young age, and he became an accomplished musician playing the violin, piano, tuba, and upright bass, which earned him a scholarship at Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas. He followed his passion for music, playing the bass and arranging for many jazz bands during the Big Band era of the 1940-50's.
During that time, he was called to serve in the United States Army during World War II, earning several medals and becoming a corporal. He fought at the Battle of the Bulge, where he was captured in December, 1944, and was a prisoner of war in Germany until his release in April, 1945.
After his honorable discharge, Wally continued his musical career where he met his future wife, singer Joyce Flake, while working for the same band in St. Louis, Missouri. After his marriage to Joyce, a Jackson native, he accepted a computer operator internship with Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, and eventually retired 32 years later as manager of the department, with many achievements throughout his career. He was a driving force in establishing a chapter of the Data Processing Management Association in the State of Mississippi, and served a term as president.
Wally and Joyce were married for 53 years until her death in 2004.
He had a love for family, traveling, gardening and winemaking. He was the epitome of "The Greatest Generation," a humble man of wisdom, integrity, and honor.
He leaves behind two daughters, Bobbie Jo Myers (Brad), and Connie Suber; sister Dorothy Milam and brother John Avent (Joyce); grandchildren Laura Avent, Alice McBratney (Thomas), Jessica Casaver-Inman (Mike), Christina Myers Rank (Jim), and Melissa Craig (Conway); great-grandchildren Jackson, Banks, Aubrey, and Lee.
Spouses
Birth Date16 Aug 1927
Birth PlaceMemphis, Shelby County, Tennessee
Death Date04 Apr 2004 Age: 76
Death PlaceJackson, Hinds County, Mississippi
Misc. Notes
Joyce Flake Avent, 76, died Sunday, April 4, 2004, at the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson.
Mrs. Avent was born on August 16, 1927, in Memphis, Tenn., and moved to Jackson at the age of 5. She graduated from Central High School in Jackson in 1945.
Mrs. Avent was an active member of Broadmoor Baptist Church, where she taught children's Sunday school for over 40 years and sang in the adult choir and the J.O.Y. choir.
She worked at Brown, Wright and Barnette music stores before owning her own store, Avent Music Co., from 1982 until 1992, when she retired. She sang with several local and traveling bands, frequently billed as "the angel with the golden voice."
Mrs. Avent was president of MacDowell Music Club, a member and past state president of the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs, a lifetime member of the National Federation of Music Clubs, a member and past president of Asgard Literary Club and past president of the Jackson Federation of Women's Clubs.
Her hobbies included traveling, making scrapbooks, taking photographs and attending concerts.
Mrs. Avent is survived by her husband of 53 years, Wallace Avent of Jackson; her son and daughter-in-law, Neil and Lyle Avent of Richmond, Va.; daughter and son-in-law, Katie Avent Tharp and Tony Tharp of Charleston, S.C.; daughter, Connie Avent Suber of Ridgeland; daughter and son-in-law, Bobbie Jo Avent Myers and Brad Myers of Ridgeland; grandchildren, Laura Avent of Richmond, Va., Alice Avent of Birmingham, Ala., Jessica Casaver of Ridgeland, and Christina and Melissa Myers of Ridgeland; and many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Avent was born on August 16, 1927, in Memphis, Tenn., and moved to Jackson at the age of 5. She graduated from Central High School in Jackson in 1945.
Mrs. Avent was an active member of Broadmoor Baptist Church, where she taught children's Sunday school for over 40 years and sang in the adult choir and the J.O.Y. choir.
She worked at Brown, Wright and Barnette music stores before owning her own store, Avent Music Co., from 1982 until 1992, when she retired. She sang with several local and traveling bands, frequently billed as "the angel with the golden voice."
Mrs. Avent was president of MacDowell Music Club, a member and past state president of the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs, a lifetime member of the National Federation of Music Clubs, a member and past president of Asgard Literary Club and past president of the Jackson Federation of Women's Clubs.
Her hobbies included traveling, making scrapbooks, taking photographs and attending concerts.
Mrs. Avent is survived by her husband of 53 years, Wallace Avent of Jackson; her son and daughter-in-law, Neil and Lyle Avent of Richmond, Va.; daughter and son-in-law, Katie Avent Tharp and Tony Tharp of Charleston, S.C.; daughter, Connie Avent Suber of Ridgeland; daughter and son-in-law, Bobbie Jo Avent Myers and Brad Myers of Ridgeland; grandchildren, Laura Avent of Richmond, Va., Alice Avent of Birmingham, Ala., Jessica Casaver of Ridgeland, and Christina and Melissa Myers of Ridgeland; and many nieces and nephews.
Marr Date22 Jul 1951
Marr PlaceJackson, Hinds County, Mississippi
ChildrenStanley Neil (1946-2016)