Mr. Avant was the son of Jerry W. Avant and the late Yon Suk Yi. Jerry was a studious young man who graduated from Richmond Senior High School in 1988, then attended both Richmond and Sandhills community colleges. His interest was in electronic technology. Jerry served ten years in the Coast Guard and while there, he was involved in aircraft electronics at several Coast Guard bases, the last one being Fort Lauderdale, Florida. When he left the Coast Guard, he leaned toward the medical field and wished he had gotten into the medical field in the beginning. It seemed to be his calling. So he continued his commitment to helping others by getting his degree in nursing and was preparing to take his board exams to become a Registered Nurse. Those who know Jerry best say that he would have given you the shirt off his back and that he couldn't have picked a better profession. The Licensed Practical Nurse at Pinelake Health and Rehab Center was about to take the exam with the Board of Nursing. Jerry was engaged to be married to another member of the staff at the facility. He had made his home in Carthage with his fiance', Jill DeGarmo, and attended Cornerstone Baptist Church. He was killed at age 39 while trying to shield others from gunfire during a shooting rampage. He gave his life in the protection of others, and his heroism leaves both a great sense of pride and sadness in all those who knew and loved him. Jerry is survived by his fiance', Jill; his father, Jerry W. Avant; his paternal grandmother, Evelyn Avant; a sister, Frances Greene; a nephew, Joshua and three nieces, Britany, Kailee, and Peyton.
Mr. Avant was the son of Jerry W. Avant and the late Yon Suk Yi. Jerry was a studious young man who graduated from Richmond Senior High School in 1988, then attended both Richmond and Sandhills community colleges. His interest was in electronic technology. Jerry served ten years in the Coast Guard and while there, he was involved in aircraft electronics at several Coast Guard bases, the last one being Fort Lauderdale, Florida. When he left the Coast Guard, he leaned toward the medical field and wished he had gotten into the medical field in the beginning. It seemed to be his calling. So he continued his commitment to helping others by getting his degree in nursing and was preparing to take his board exams to become a Registered Nurse. Those who know Jerry best say that he would have given you the shirt off his back and that he couldn't have picked a better profession. The Licensed Practical Nurse at Pinelake Health and Rehab Center was about to take the exam with the Board of Nursing. Jerry was engaged to be married to another member of the staff at the facility. He had made his home in Carthage with his fiance', Jill DeGarmo, and attended Cornerstone Baptist Church. He was killed at age 39 while trying to shield others from gunfire during a shooting rampage. He gave his life in the protection of others, and his heroism leaves both a great sense of pride and sadness in all those who knew and loved him. Jerry is survived by his fiance', Jill; his father, Jerry W. Avant; his paternal grandmother, Evelyn Avant; a sister, Frances Greene; a nephew, Joshua and three nieces, Britany, Kailee, and Peyton.
