Afton Jane Banning , 92, of rural Columbia City, went to be with her Lord and Savior at 5:00 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2025, from Stillwater Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.

She was born February 19, 1933, in Rogersville, Alabama, a daughter of the late Perry J. and Vera A. (Newton) Liverett.  She was a sharecropper's daughter whose family moved frequently, she picked cotton from an early age in southern Tennessee and northern Alabama.  She graduated from Rogersville High School in 1951.  Not one to discriminate, she would sit in the back of the bus during the Jim Crow law era until the driver would not allow her, leaving her with a life-long drive for equality for all people.

On February 28, 1953, she married a U.S. Marine, Eugene M. Banning.  They made their first home in Fort Wayne, returning to Etna Troy Township, Whitley County, and then to their present home in Thorncreek Twp., in April 1959, where they raised four children.  Eugene died on January 13, 2017.

In addition to being a homemaker, Afton worked in the production department of Essex Wire, Columbia City, for 21 years, retiring in 1994.

Afton enjoyed growing an annual vegetable garden and canning the produce for use throughout the year. She liked to fish and had a knack for catching catfish.  Working with her husband, they would purchase and fix wrecked cars that they would sell.  She earned a private pilot's license and delighted in flying the family's small Cessna airplane.

A devout woman of faith, she was a regular at the church.  When the grandkids and great-grandkids came along, they became her pride and joy, always greeting them with a big hug.  She liked playing games with them, especially Aggravation and Rook.

Surviving are her children, Sandee (Richard) Wheeler of Milltown, Jan (John) Dilley of Fort Wayne, Barbara Banning of Columbia City, and Daniel L. (Lesa) Banning of Columbia City; nine grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; brothers, Millard Liverett of Florence, AL and James (Shirley) Liverett of Sheffield, AL and a sister Martha Liverett of Rogersville, AL.

Additionally, she was preceded in death by two grandsons and a sister-in-law, Faye Liverett.

The funeral service is at 2 p.m. Saturday (March 29th) at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is beside her husband at the Adams Cemetery.  Visitation is from 1 p.m. until the service Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials in Afton's honor are to Victory Christian Fellowship Church, Columbia City.