Chung-He Varnadoe

Mrs. Chung-He Varnadoe, 78, of Adel passed away Thursday, November 5, 2020 at Southwell Medical Hospital. Mrs. Varnadoe was born February 17, 1942 in Mokpo, South Korea. Due to the war, she was separated from her family at 6 years old. As a young child Chung-He was all alone living under buildings that were being impacted by the destruction of war and having to live off of a limited supply of food that she had to find herself. By the grace of God Mrs. Varnadoe survived to her adulthood. She would admit that even though the beginning of her journey might have had many difficult challenges she was still able to recall memories throughout her years that she cherished for a lifetime such as working in an art studio where she was able to present Robert Kennedy with a portrait of John F. Kennedy.

Life changed for Chung-He after she married Felix Varnadoe who served in the armed forces during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Her married life would mean taking on the role of being a wife to an active duty soldier as well as a devoted mother to their children. Family became the focus point for her life but that did not mean that challenges were over for her. Many years after becoming married she became severely sick to the point that death was something she feared. During this time of her life she had not yet made the decision to serve God as she practiced Buddhism. She would pray as a Buddhist for her healing but her sickness continued. She made the ultimate decision that something had to change and so she made the decision to pray to God promising that if he would heal her that she would serve him. This promise became the beginning of her conversion to Christianity. She became healed and through that experience her faith in God manifested. Mrs. Varnadoe served God faithfully and wholeheartedly ever since.

Survivors include her children, Denny (Karrie) Varnadoe of Brunswick, Ga, and Judy (Thomas Kevin) Carter of Adel; grandchildren, Priscilla Watson (Carmen) Miles of Adel, Jimmy Watson of Adel, Deanna Varnadoe (Herb) Reinhard of Oxford, MS, and Matthew Varnadoe of Brunswick; great grandchildren, Elena Grace Miles, Emma Claire Miles, and Adalyn Leigh Reinhard; and two brothers, Lee Hae Ne of Korea, and Lee Hae Jong He of Korea. Mrs. Varnadoe was preceded in death by her husband, Felix Varnadoe, and her daughter, Esther Varnadoe.

Funeral services will be held Sunday November 8, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at Pineview Holiness Baptist Church with Rev. Edsel Young officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will be receiving friends on Saturday November 7, 2020 from 6-8 p.m. at Purvis Funeral Home.

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