Luell Simmons Varnum, 78, of Lake City, passed away on Saturday morning, September 4, 2021 after a brief illness. She was born in Georgia on May 2, 1943, to the late Johnnie Wilbur Simmons and Dona Bradford Simmons. She has made Lake City her home all of her life and was a member of the Church of God here in Lake City. She worked for over 25 years as a Cashier with S&S Food Stores before retiring. She then went to work for the Flowers Bread Store here in Lake City for a short time before she retired completely. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening, reading, cooking and keeping her house neat and decorating it for the holiday seasons. She was a very loving mother and grandmother to her family. She is preceded in death by her six brothers; her son, Aubrey Varnum, Jr. and her daughter, Gwendolyn Varnum.

She is survived by her children, Johnnie Dewayne "Wayne" Varnum, Lisa Varnum and Dona Varnum. Numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren also survive.

A funeral service for Mrs. Varnum will be conducted on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. in the Gateway-Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 P.M. on Wednesday evening, September 8, 2021 at the funeral home. Following the funeral services, the family will be gathering at Mrs. Varnum's House and would invite everyone to join them there following the services.