Wendy Wells Moore Lakeland, GA 1943 – 2023

Wendy Wells Moore, 79, of Lakeland, Georgia, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. She was born August 3, 1943, in Rochester, New York to the late Dr. Robert E. Wells and Mrs. Dorothy Day Wells. Following her graduation from Brighton High School she met the love of her life, Raymond Moore, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Raymond’s Air Force assignments led them to live in Holland and in Tacoma, Washington. Following the Air Force, they returned to live in Naylor where she attended Valdosta State College receiving a  Bachelors, a Masters, and a Specialist of Education degree.

One of Wendy’s greatest passions was her love of being a high school teacher. She began teaching in the fall of 1970 at Lanier County High in Lakeland where she taught Business Education before retiring as the School-to-Career Coordinator in June 2001.

After teaching for a couple of years, she convinced the Board of Education to allow her to start the Vocational Office Training (VOT) program at the high school which provided the opportunity for students to take classes in the mornings and leave campus after lunch to work in local businesses for hands-on learning opportunities.

She was a firm believer in always making sure the job was ‘done right’. In addition to teaching business and office skills, she constantly instilled in her students the importance of good work ethics. Many of her former students have gone on to be successful business leaders in South Georgia as well as throughout the United States.

Her accomplishments in the classroom and with preparing students for success in the workforce led to recognition for Outstanding Service by the Office of Cooperative Education of Valdosta State University and by the Georgia Business Education Association (GBEA) where she was chosen as the Secondary Business Education Teacher of the Year.

In addition to education, she was also passionate about the improvement of the Lanier County community. In the late 1990s, she began researching the creation of a Chamber of Commerce. Through her efforts, the Lakeland-Lanier Chamber of Commerce was created and she became a Charter Member. She served on the first Board of Directors as well as serving as the treasurer for many years. Her activities and accomplishments within the Chamber include the formation of Leadership Lanier for upcoming and outstanding leaders in the community and the creation of Leadership Lanier Youth to encourage high school students to learn more about the community and to learn to serve and help improve Lanier County. She continued to serve on the Board as a Lifetime Board Member and was extremely active in all aspects of the Chamber.

Her years of community participation and service, together with her dedication to education and leadership, were instrumental in her being chosen as the recipient of the Flatlander of the Year Award in 2002. This award is presented annually by the Lanier County Lions Club to one person that exemplifies continuous outstanding service for improvement of all citizens in the county.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Raymond Moore; her sons Terry Moore (Tracye) of Milledgeville, and Kevin Moore (Felicia) of Naylor. She is also survived by grandchildren: Andrew Moore (Amber) of Naylor, John Raymond (Chancey) Moore of Nashville, Katherine Moore of Naylor, Jackson Moore and Alex Moore of Milledgeville; great-grandchildren Rebecka Moore and Andon Moore of Naylor; sisters Susie (Richard) Shaughnessy of Rutherfordton, North Carolina, and Laurie (Gary) Cannon of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania; brothers-in-law Virgil Moore of Naylor, Edward Moore of Chula, and sister-in-law Letha Moore of Valdosta; and numerous nieces and nephews and a multitude of former students who she considered her kids.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at Lakeland Methodist Church with burial following in the Good Hope Cemetery. She will be placed in the church one hour prior to services. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday evening, April 7, 2023 from 5:00-7:00 pm. Flowers will be accepted or make donations to a charity of your choice. Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com. Music Funeral Services is serving the Wendy Moore family.