03/24/2026
Lana Gail Devoter
Lana Gail Devoter, 77, of Lake, MS- ardent and cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many- passed away on March 22, 2026, at her residence.
Gail lived a quiet but steady life centered around her family, her work, and the everyday responsibilities she carried without public complaint. She was a graduate of Lake High School, where she was also a skilled basketball player. Gail was exceptionally smart- sharp, observant, and always paying attention. She didn’t need to say much to understand exactly what was going on, and more often than not, she already knew the answer before anyone else figured out the question.
Gail met her husband. Robert Devoter, on December 24, 1966, after being set up on a blind date, and married him on May 24, 1969. They were married for a wonderful 56 years. During that time, Robert quickly learned that, despite being the man of the house, Gail was the true head of the household. Still, they built a life together that worked through long days, hard seasons, and everything in between. They were a steady team, each knowing exactly where the other stood, and neither having to question it.
Over the years, she worked as a secretary, bus driver, and cafeteria worker at Newton Academy, later serving as a bookkeeper for Sorey Tire and for her and her husband’s business, R & L Trucking & Transport. She was trusted with numbers, details, and responsibility because she handled things right the first time, every time. For many years, she also ran a tanning bed business. What started as a small side business became something more- a place where people came not just to tan, but to talk. Family, friends, and neighbors passed through regularly, and many of them looked to her for advice, steady guidance, and a kind of quiet, motherly support that stayed with them long after they left.
She was known best for baking cakes and cooking, working at the election polls, and doing whatever needed to be done without making a show of it. She didn’t seek recognition- she just handled things and loved people the way Jesus would. Gail was a keeper of everything that she thought mattered. Recipes, cookbooks, magazines, scripture, clippings, handwritten notes- if it meant something, she saved it. Her cookbooks were filled with more than food; they held pieces of life, things worth remembering, and proof that she paid attention. She loved flowers and gardening and believed in doing things the way they’d always been done. She shared what she knew freely- and expected you to listen and learn something from it.
She loved her daughter, Stephanie, in a way that was constant, watchful, and honest. While she may not have always understood Stephanie’s more free-spirited lifestyle, she never stopped loving her- and she never stopped keeping an eye on her, either. Stephanie may not have always understood Gail’s overprotective, always-worrying kind of love- but that was exactly what it was: love that paid attention, stayed close, and never let go, even if it meant keeping an eye on things a little longer than most. Her grandsons, Landon and Cody, were hers in every sense of the word. She helped raise them, stood by them, and remained a steady presence in their lives through every season. Gail may not have understood their love for fast cars and loud music, but she supported it anyway, because they loved it. Some say she spoiled them, but she would say that they needed to forge their own way and become who they were meant to be. She wasn’t overly expressive with words, but her pride in her boys was never in question- you could see it in the way she showed up, the way she paid attention, and the way she never stopped being there. She is also survived by her granddaughter-in-law, Jennifer, who shared a bond with her that somewhere along the way, without either of them needing to say it out loud, that bond became something more than just family by marriage- something deeper- steady, honest, and constant. Gail was not just a grandmother figure, but someone Jennifer leaned on, learned from, and thought of as her own- and Gail did the same in return, trusting her with what mattered most: her boys. Together, they built a kind of family that didn’t need much explaining- just consistency, presence, and knowing you were taken care of. It was the kind of love that showed up in everyday moments, in quiet support, and in always having someone in your corner.
Her great-grandchildren, MaKenzi, Eli, and Tristan brought her a kind of joy that was steady and easy. She shared something different with each of them, and she paid attention enough to know exactly what that was. MaKenzi was her go to for gossip, fashion, and baking- the two of them spending long stretches of time together, talking about everything and nothing while Robert worked. Eli always made Gail light up with laughter, but she saw past the jokes- recognizing the caring, thoughtful heart behind it, even when he tried to hide it. She enjoyed his curiosity and willingness to learn about the hobbies she enjoyed such as gardening and traditions. And Tristan- he was her quiet place. Her nap partner, her shadow, the one who didn’t need much said at all. The two of them could be found side by side, resting, watching Tom & Jerry, sneaking snacks, playing games, or just being still together and for her, that was more than enough.
Gail is survived by her husband, Robert Devoter; her daughter, Stephanie; her grandsons, Landon Devoter (Jennifer), and Cody Devoter; her great-grandchildren, MaKenzi Devoter, Elijah Devoter, and Tristan Devoter; her sister, Rebecca Noel (Charlie); her sister-in-law, Barbara Culpepper; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. She is proceeded in death by her parents, Lavelle Culpepper Sr. and FlorencePauline Hollingsworth Culpepper; and her brother Lavelle Culpepper Jr. (Pepper).
A graveside service will be held on March 26, 2026 at 12 o’clock in the afternoon at Sharon Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Lake, Scott County, MS. Services will be officiated by Brother Danny Todd. Flowers may be brought to the graveside service. Those who wish to may also support the family during this time. The family will be receiving food at Sand Ridge Baptist Church.
Pallbearers will be Jackie Culpepper, Lee Culpepper, Levi Culpepper, Justin Culpepper, Westin Culpepper, and Lance Noel. Honorary Pallbearers will be Vince Edwards, Zac Meeks, Brian Stevens, Eyd Kazery, Austin Vancor, and Charlie Noel.
Gail lived her life in a way that didn’t need explaining. She took care of her own, kept what mattered, and stayed present through it all. She wasn’t loud about her love, but she was consistent with it. And if you were hers- you knew it.
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