Laverne Rummage

Frances Laverne Rummage
March 27, 1926 – October 10, 2020
Laverne Rummage, 94, of Waco, passed away on October 10, 2020 at Living Springs Village, Waco, Texas after an extended illness. Visitation with family members will be at OakCrest Funeral Home, Waco, from 5 – 7 p.m. Wednesday October 14. Memorial Services will be Thursday October 15 10:30 a.m., at OakCrest Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Josh Vaughn, pastor of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church.

Laverne was born on March 27, 1926 in Stephenville, Texas to Sam M. and Vera Lorena Russell. She graduated from Anacostia High School, Washington D.C in 1943. After graduation, she attended American University, Washington D.C., for 1 year; Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas, for 1 year; and Baylor University, Waco, Texas for 2 years, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1947. While attending Baylor, Laverne married Ralph Rummage in 1948 and taught school in Waco, Texas before moving to the Bay area of California in 1950. In California, she taught school for several years while her husband attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. In California, she and her husband Ralph began their career in pioneer missions, participating in church planting in California. In 1957, they moved to Bixby, Oklahoma where her husband pastored for two years. In 1959, Ralph and Laverne were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) as career missionaries to Southern Rhodesia, Africa (now Zimbabwe) for 32 years, retiring to Waco, Texas in 1991. While on the mission field, Laverne supported her husband’s missionary work, raised a family, and worked with pastor’s wives and families. In their retirement, they continued to be involved in volunteer-based domestic and foreign missions to Zimbabwe, Wisconsin, Kenya, and Bosnia. Laverne remained an active member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church teaching Sunday School and citizenship classes, and volunteering with Meals on Wheels.

Laverne and her husband of more than 71 years spent their lives in service to Jesus Christ, their Savior, by serving people in their family, church, and communities (domestic and foreign) wherever they lived and worked. Known as “Amai” or “mom” to her family, Laverne is remembered for showing others the love of Christ through her wonderful cooking and gift of hospitality. She also had a unique gift to remember special dates (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) and rarely failed to send cards and encouragement at those times.

Laverne was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ralph, granddaughter Jamie Lynn Rummage, and daughter in law Patty Rummage.

She is survived by her sister Mary Russell; son David Rummage and his children, Mike and Kate; son John Rummage and his wife Debbie, and their children Rachael and Samuel; daughter Carolyn Woods and her husband Bill, and their children Daniel and Josh; son Paul Rummage and his wife Carole, and their children Ben and Holly; 10 great-grandchildren; 6 grandchildren in law.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the
International Mission Board, link
3806 Monument Ave
Richmond, VA 23230