George Covington Avent, Sr., 85, husband of Marjorie Lewis “Cookie” Avent, passed away Sunday August 2, 2015, at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, SC.

Mr. Avent was born May 28, 1930, in Wadesboro, NC, a son of the late A.R. Avent and Mary Covington Avent. He was a graduate of Florence County schools and attended NC State for two years before becoming a member of the US Air Force. Mr. Avent and his family were the owners of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Florence. For 50 years, Mr. Avent was the general manager of the Kingstree plant. He was a glider pilot and was an avid race car fan and driver. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Kingstree where he was a Trustee, Deacon and Sunday School teacher. He also served on the SC Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Team.

Surviving, in addition to his wife Cookie Avent, are: three sons, George C. (Mary Beth) Avent, Jr., John L. (Frances) Avent, and James B. (Michelle) Avent; a daughter, Marjorie J. Avent; 14 grandchildren; a sister, Catherine Ann Medlin; a brother, Frank H. (Jean) Avent; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Avent was preceded in death by a brother, Fred C. Avent.

Funeral services will be 11:30 AM Thursday August 6, 2015, in Kingstree First Baptist Church, with burial in Kingstree Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends 10 to 11 AM in the parlor of the Family Life Center at the church. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Kingstree First Baptist Church, Family Life Center Fund, PO Box 608, Kingstree, SC 29556.