Alice "Nevonda" (Williams) Lankhorst

Alice Nevonda Lankhorst, 93 of Fremont, passed away peacefully at her home on October 13, 2023.  

Nevonda was born Aug 26, 1930 in Cornersville, TN, to Joe Howard and Georgia Lou Williams. Nevonda attended her early school years in Cornersville, and moved to Nashville, TN to live with her aunt and uncle to finish her last two years of High School at David Lipscomb High School (A Christian School).  

Nevonda met Burton Lankhorst in Nashville and later flew up to meet Burt in Fremont, MI, and they married in the First Christian Reformed Church parsonage in Fremont, MI  Nov. 12, 1949. Shortly afterward, Burton entered into business with his father Christeven Lankhorst and purchased the Surplus Store and grew a family business into a sporting/clothing store that served the needs of area families for surrounding communities for 42 years.  

Nevonda and Burt enjoyed playing golf in the late 60’s, and after Burt’s death, Nevonda continued to play till she was 90 years of age on a woman’s golf league. Off season she and her friends enjoyed each other’s company playing cards and dominoes. 

She loved walking with her friends and exercising. Nevonda loved her aerobics classes and friends there until 2023, they’d enjoy each other’s company afterwards at Burger King for coffee. Many knew Nevonda as an active Gerber Hospital volunteer working in the gift shop for twenty years. 

Many who knew and recognized Nevonda by her warm charming smile and her southern Tennessee accent. Even until her death, her friends commented when they visited her, “There’s that smile we grew to know and love in Nevonda”. 

Nevonda was preceded in death by her mother, Georgia Lou Williams; father, Joe Howard Williams; husband, Burton; sister Betty Turner;  brother Houston Williams; brother, James Williams; great grandson Nathan Lankhorst. 

Nevonda is survived by her sons Steve and Marcia (Breuker) of Newaygo; Dave and Karen (Heyboer) of Grand Haven; daughters Karen and Rev. Ralph Posnik of Tennessee; Lora Lankhorst of Muskegon; brother Wayne Williams of Tennessee; sister-in-law Janie Williams of Tennessee. 

Nevonda was blessed by her twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. 

Nevonda’s funeral services will be held on Saturday Oct 21 at the First Christian Reformed Church at 721 Hillcrest Drive, Fremont, MI.  Visitation is on Saturday only at 10AM, Service to follow at 11 AM, with a luncheon following.  Nevonda’s service will be officiated by Rev. Drew Sweetman.  Memorial Contributions:  The Fremont Christian School Endowment Fund at the Fremont Area Community Foundation, 4424 W. 48th Street, Fremont, MI. 49412, or Harbor Hospice, 1050 W. Western Ave, Suite 400, Muskegon, MI. 49441.   

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