Lavenia was born to John and Mary Harpole on November 29, 1938 in Pheba, MS. She attended school in Pheba where she excelled in sports and graduated as class President and Valedictorian. She was a member of Self Creek Baptist Church in Maben, MS.
After finishing high school, she met Warren Keith Yeatman, Sr. and they were married August 1, 1958. They lived in the Self Creek community.
She had several jobs, but her most rewarding was driving a school bus and being librarian at O.L. Wicks Elementary in Maben. Every student knew to behave because Ms. Yeatman would pull out her “wham pole” and shake it around. She was frequented by so many students but she called every single child her own. Our mother was the disciplinarian in our family, and she didn’t hesitate to remind us of this. It was the same with “her kids” at school. Every student respected the “wham pole”.
Ms. Lavenia is survived by her children, Tammy Yeatman, Donna Nickels (Vic), and Keith Yeatman, Jr. (Betty), all of Maben; three grandchildren, Drew Nickels (Anna Marie) of Pheba, MS, Hayden Nickels (Anna), and Sarah Grace Broom (David) of Maben. She loved her four great grandchildren, Ava Cole and Mary Hayden Nickels, Savannah Grace and Annie Kate Broom. She is also survived by one sister, Sandra Middleton of Starkville; and a host of nephews and nieces.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Keith Yeatman, Sr.; brother, Jimmy Harpole; and sister, Johnnie Rast.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville, MS, and again on Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 10:00-11:00 a.m., at First Baptist Church in Maben, with the service immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Ms. Lavenia’s favorite charities:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. P. O. Box 1999, Memphis, TN 38101
Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675
Providence Methodist Cemetery Fund, Attn: Lawanda McMullen, 4150 MS Hwy. 15, Maben, MS 39750
Our sincere thank you to Baptist Hospital and their Hospice Care, along with her nurse, Carrie Lee. We appreciate their kind and considerate care for our mother.
