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Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend peacefully passed away on August 26th at the age of 91.

Verna Will was born in LaGrange, Georgia, on May 15, 1931, daughter of the late John M. Duncan and Octavia ‘Tavie’ Norris Duncan.  After graduating from Center High School, she attended business school at Berry.  She was a longtime employee of International Playtex.  A member of First Baptist Church on the Square. Verna Will’s greatest love was her family.  Very talented, she could do anything.  She loved gardening and could be found planting and caring for many beautiful flowers and plants…a true green thumb. She also enjoyed her coffee and desserts, crocheting, dancing and having fun with everyone, and traveling or rambling moving to Florida to be with her young grandsons and moving to Colorado to be with her young granddaughters. She learned to love watching ice hockey as a University of Denver season ticket holder.

In addition to her parents and brother J.M. ‘Bud’ Duncan, she was predeceased by her loving husband Leonard Yates.  A devoted mother to Dale and Gale, she instilled the balance of family and hard work while always having faith that God was by her side.

She will be greatly missed by her two daughters, Dale M. Storey and Gale (Drew) Ingersoll; her caring brother, Kenneth and dear sister-in-law, Pauline, predeceased by her brother, J.M.’Bud’, and survived by her dear sister-in-law, Betty; her beloved grandchildren who adored their Nana/Nanny, Sam (Patricia), Paul, Heather (Raphael) and Catherine; and her five great-grandchildren, Tyler (Haley), Tre, TT, India and Chiara. She will also be missed by all her nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services to celebrate Verna Will’s life will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, September 1, 2022, in the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby, LaGrange, Georgia with Dr. Paul Baxter officiating. Burial will follow in Restlawn Memory Gardens. The gathering of family and friends will be on Thursday from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary.

A warm thank you goes out to Columbus Hospice for the care and compassion given to her.  As Verna Will loved flowers, flowers will be accepted or donations to Columbus Hospice in memory of Verna Will Duncan Yates.

We will always love you Mom; and you will be forever in our hearts.

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636