Lavanda Jean McCrary, 70, passed away June 21, 2017 at the Veterans Hospital in Temple. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Mexia with Pastor Robert Campbell officiating. Interment will follow the service at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be Friday evening 6-8 p.m. at Corley-Porter Funeral Home. On December 18th 1946 LaVanda Jean Potts was born to the parents of Mr. Walter Potts Sr and Mrs. Corine Steen. LaVanda was the oldest of 7 children. Her siblings are Walter Potts Jr, Brunette (Eva) Hogan, Billy Ray Potts, Janice Ann Jackson, Maurice Miles, and Shree Medlock. She attended Douglas Dunbar High School in Mexia, Texas. Upon graduating, she enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. Scoring the highest in all her platoon, she chose to serve her country working at the Pentagon and the White House. While in the reserves, she obtained her bachelor's degree in computer programming. After graduating, she became the only African-American woman programmer working for IBM Atlanta. She worked for IBM for 20 years upon retiring in Dallas Texas. LaVanda loved the Lord, she is the member of St Luke United Methodist Church in Mexia Texas. There she served the Lord in her church by teaching vacation bible school as well as record-keeping and a member of the financial committee. She leaves to cherish her loving memory her four children Candy Wiley, Overton (Aundra) Potts, Tabitha Corbett Oliphant and Jamila McCrary. Six Grandchildren, Cortney Combs, Mariyah Wiley, Raven Potts, Ty Strong, Myron Thompson and Trynity Hicks. One great-grandchild Omari Peoples and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Serving as pallbearers will be Walter Potts, Jr., Billy Ray Potts, Overton Potts, Brandon Medlock and James Wiley. Honorary Pallbearers will be Myron Thompson, Ty Strong and Justin Potts.