MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Rutherford County lost a talented, caring, and deeply giving soul on Saturday (4/11/2026) afternoon. Seventy‑seven‑year‑old Avent Lane passed away at the Alive Hospice Murfreesboro Residence, surrounded by the people who loved him most. For several days, his wife of 53 years--Marlene, daughter Mollie, and son Matt stayed close, keeping watch, sharing stories, and offering the same steady love Avent had poured into them all their lives.
Marlene was the lifelong love of his life, and the two of them shared a quiet mission of encouragement. They didn’t just pray for people — they showed up. They went the extra mile. Marlene’s longtime service on the Care Team at First Presbyterian was simply an extension of the compassion the two of them lived out together.
Anyone who knew the Lane family could see Avent in his children. Mollie carries his musical gift with ease, moving between keyboard and percussion with the same natural grace her father brought to every instrument he touched. Matt inherited Avent’s engineering mind and his heart for service. Today he manages the 911 telephone systems for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, but his roots — like his father’s — run through WGNS, where he learned both the craft of broadcasting and the art of community connection.
Avent had been battling a mix of heart and liver issues for some time, but things took a sharp turn about ten days ago. After a week in the hospital and a few days at Alive Hospice, friends streamed in to share memories, laughter, and gratitude. It became a living tribute — a parade of people wanting to tell him what he meant to them.
Former Sheriff Truman Jones recalled on the radio a moment from Avent’s early days as a deputy. Patrol cars were so worn out that holes in the floorboard weren’t unusual. One day, while Avent was literally “riding shotgun,” the double‑barrel accidentally discharged. When the smoke cleared, you could look straight through the floor and watch the road rushing by. It was the kind of story that captured both the danger and the humor of those early law‑enforcement years.
But Avent’s true brilliance shone in engineering. He could repair church organs and guitar amps, rebuild PA systems, and design sound setups that most people couldn’t even diagram. His love for his church — Murfreesboro First Presbyterian — was evident in the state‑of‑the‑art audio system he personally designed and installed, replacing an aging setup with something that would serve the congregation for decades. And for years, he ran the audio himself, with Marlene faithfully by his side.
Mollie and Matt weren’t the only ones shaped by Avent’s gifts. Musicians across Rutherford County felt his influence. He was the friend you called when your gear broke, when your sound wasn’t right, or when you just needed someone steady to talk to before a gig.
Matt shared a moving reflection after his father’s passing: “Dad headed out today around 5:30 this evening (4/11/2026). He moved on from this reality into the great gig in the sky… There’s something deeply humbling about this moment — the realization that no matter how much we love someone, how much we admire them, life keeps moving forward. Another road… even when we’re not ready to walk it. And yet, in the middle of that truth, there’s something steady and unshaken. My father’s life didn’t just pass — it left an impact. In the music he played, the wisdom he carried, and the quiet strength he lived by. Those things don’t end here. They go with us. We were able to be with him, to surround him with love, and to let him go in peace. There’s sorrow in the goodbye, but also gratitude in the way he lived and the way he was loved. Thank you all for your prayers, your kindness, and your support. I’ll share more soon. For now, I’m learning to take this next road one step at a time… carrying him with me.”
The family added their own heartfelt thanks: “I can’t say enough about the wonderful staff at St. Thomas Rutherford and Alive Hospice. Truly class acts, for sure.”
Tributes poured in from across the Community
Musician Larry Pinkerton said, “For decades I played so many gigs, had so many laughs and shared a deep friendship with Avent Lane. Love you Avent, Marlene, Matt and Mollie.”
Local musician and WGNS regular Mickey Gannon shared, “My longtime friend Avent Lane has left this world. If anyone has ever left this world a better place it was him. His kind spirit will live on in all that knew him. Miss you old friend.”
Attorney and musician John Blankenship reflected, “A night of contemplation. One of emotional contrast — sadness and gratitude. My dear friend and music compadre, Avent Lane, passed away today around 5:30 pm. While my heart is deeply saddened it is also filled with gratitude for my many years of brotherhood in both music and life.” He dedicated Friday’s radio program to Avent.
Another local musician, Rhonda Braswell Tenpenny, "Our last gig with Avent was last fall at Country Junction. We lost Avent today. My thoughts and prayers are with his family."
Musician Elaine Winters added simply, “Our dear friend Avent Lane has passed from this life.”
Recia Ferrell noted, "Avent was one of my husband's great friends. He played with my husband for years. My husband was L. B. Ferrell. L B Ferrell gave a lot of musicians a fresh start. Now, my husband is singing and Avent playing bass. I know the family will truly miss him for days to come. I’m Praying for you and your family Marlene."
And in a way that now feels almost prophetic, Avent welcomed the New Year with a bit of philosophy: “The future holds some wonderful things that may happen. Musical changes are in the wind.”
Arrangements
Memorial services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Murfreesboro on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM. Visitation with the family will follow the Memorial Service. CLICK HERE for the complete obituary.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Avent’s name to the First Presbyterian Church of Murfreesboro Audio/Video Ministry and Alive Hospice.
If you have a memory about Avent Lane that you would like to share, CLICK HERE and leave your thoughts.
