Tonya Elaina White Livingston

Tonya Elaina (White) Livingston, 42, passed away peacefully due to complications from COVID-19 at Augusta University Medical Center on Saturday, August 21, 2021.

Tonya was
born in Savannah, GA on October 16, 1978 to Aubrey "Tom" White and Jean Nell
(Williams) White. Tonya was raised in Ellabell, GA and was a part of Bryan
County High School's graduating class of 1997. While in high school, she worked
as a cashier and HBA manager at Piggly Wiggly for three years. It was there
that she met people who would become lifelong friends, including her future
husband, Kris Livingston. Eventually, the two of them were married on October
4, 1997.

Tonya served as the
most dedicated and supportive mother to the couple's two children, Alyssa (23)
and Dale Livingston (18). For every sports game, band performance, play, and
school ceremony, she was always a guaranteed and proud spectator in the crowd.
Being a mother was Tonya's greatest joy in life, and she strived to instill the
importance of respect, responsibility, integrity, and hard work into her
children. She took pride in everything Alyssa and Dale had accomplished so far
in life and would go on to accomplish in the future.

For 21 years, Tonya was
a billing specialist and more under her the guidance of her husband's aunt,
Sherry Youmans, at Youmans Trucking and Evans Delivery Company, Inc. Trucking
was a part of Tonya's life from an early age, as her father was a road driver
himself, which gave her insight into the lives of truckers and their families.
At the office, at home, and even on vacation, she worked seven days a week,
often straight through the day and night. She worked endlessly for those who
depended on her for their pay or for her help with an issue whenever she was
needed. Though she teased them with her pranks of rubber snakes, shocking
staplers, and more, she loved each coworker and driver as her own family.

Tonya had many hobbies,
but her favorite passion was cooking. Her father's grilling and mother's
cooking and baking taught and inspired her. You would never leave Tonya's home
hungry, and oftentimes, she would insist you take a plate home, too. She was
happiest sharing her cooking with everyone she knew, through her dishes for
family and office events or simply with a post on social media. By volunteering
as an Effingham County Rebel Regiment band booster for six years, Tonya took
pride in overseeing the ECHS concession stand, adding her creations to the
menu, and making connections and friendships with other parents and volunteers.
She had dreams of writing cookbooks, running her own food truck or restaurant,
and opening a bed and breakfast.

When she wasn't working
or cooking, you'd probably find her trying a new local restaurant or spending
time with her beloved Saint Bernards, Winston, Laika, and Yuri. She always
enjoyed relaxing in her chair with a movie, rereading her favorite books, or
sitting poolside with a drink and some tacos in hand.

By everyone who knew her,
Tonya will forever be remembered for her generous and humorous spirit and
admired for her ambitious and hardworking nature.

She is preceded in
death by her father, Aubrey "Tom" Wansit White; mother, Jean Nell (Williams)
White; and sister, Merita "Sue" Suzanne Lott.

Tonya is survived and
loved by her husband, Kris Livingston; daughter, Alyssa Livingston; son, Dale
Livingston; mother-in-law, Robin (Boatright) Crosby; mentor, Sherry (Boatright)
Youmans; niece, Gena Lott; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be from 6 PM to 8 PM on Friday, August 27, 2021 at Thomas C. Strickland and Sons Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held in the funeral home Effingham chapel at 11 AM on Saturday, August 28, 2021. Interment will follow in Effingham Memorial Gardens.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home

Effingham Chapel

(912) 754-6421