Lawayne Ponzell Shirley Reaves of Rockdale was born Sept. 14, 1950, in DeRidder, Louisiana, to parents Ted Shir ley and Miner va Perkins Shirley.
She departed this life on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.
She leaves her husband, Lloyd Reaves, of 57 years, along with children Michael Reaves and wife Shawna, Angelia Reaves and husband Craig, and David Reaves and wife Jillian.
Lawayne was preceded in death by one daughter, Wendy Kay Reaves.
Grandchildren include Emma Metcalf and husband Joshua, Kiersten Reaves, Dayne Kvalheim, Dahlton Schneider and wife Brittany, Dakota Pugh and husband Christian, Julia Schneider, Jake Reaves, and Hannah Reaves.
Great-grandchildren are Lillyan and Wendy Metcalf, James Schneider, Otto Pugh (expected any day.)
Siblings are Don Shirley and wife Claudette, Marlene Perry and husband Sonny.
Lawayne also had many other family members, including multiple cousins, nieces, nephews and many dear friends.
Lawayne’s purpose in life was to first and foremost love the Lord her God and share His love with others. Lawayne became a Christian early on in life and was unshakable in her faith.
In addition to her love for the Lord, she had a great love for her family, which she showed by her generous and gracious heart. You never left mom’s house without a thoughtful little gift in hand. She always had something set aside just for you—a small reminder that she was thinking of you and that her love followed you wherever you went.
Lawayne was a nurse by profession, having received her associate degree in nursing from Temple Junior College. She was passionate about her patients and had only recently stopped working in the nursing field. Lawayne always saw “the least of these” and never hesitated to make them feel loved and wanted.
Lawayne was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Rockdale where she led a women’s Bible study group.
She enjoyed serving others and sharing the message of Jesus Christ with everyone she could. Lawayne was known to buy Bibles at thrift stores, then distribute to churches, chapels and other institutions where they could be utilized.
Lawayne’s hobbies included crafting, sewing and bowling in tournaments, as well as traveling with friends and family.
She enjoyed cooking and sharing meals with others. As a wife of a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran, Lawayne had a heart for our military.
She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and donated to multiple charitable organizations that support veterans and active duty military personnel.
If you would like to make a donation in honor of Mrs. Lawayne Reaves, please channel them to one of her favorite charitable organizations: Mount Zion Baptist Church in Rockdale; Still Creek Ranch in Bryan (stillcreekranch.org); Peacock Legacy of Hope in Bryan (peacocklegacy.org).