Oscar Sherwood "Woody" Varn

Oscar Sherwood Varn, 68, passed away Saturday February 4, 2023, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford, MS. He was born April 29, 1954, in Augusta, Georgia to the late Oscar S. Varn Sr. and Eloise Radford Varn.

He studied Business Management at Augusta State University and was employed with Dillard’s for 30 years, where he rose from a sales associate in men’s clothing to Regional Manager for the South-eastern Region. Oscar moved to Water Valley, MS in 2018 and eventually to Oxford in 2019. In his retirement he ran a customer service call center from his home.

In 2021 he met and married Laura Ann Sealy. While only married 18 months, they were blessed during that magical finite season with a lifetime of joy, happiness, and contentment. He was a faithful member of Oasis Church of All Nations. He also was a member of Celebrate Recovery at New Prospect Baptist Church.  Oscar had 35+ years of sobriety and he loved sharing how his faith in Jesus Christ had set him free.

Oscar had compassion for those who suffered with grief and had begun the process of starting a grief support group at his church. He was a kind and gentle man. He was generous, romantic, loyal, forthright, intelligent, self-effacing, and at times a brutally honest critic. He loved passionately, deeply, and completely. He was a bit of a clothes horse dressed in hats, colorful shirts, and of course his myriad pairs of stylish boots which he meticulously shined and put away each time he wore them.

He is survived by his loving wife Ann; son, C. Derick Varn of Salt Lake City, Utah; sister, Elaine (Johnny) Womack of Augusta; brother-in-law, Doug Gage of Magnolia, TX; nephews, Baron Gage (Laura) of College Station, TX and Spencer Gage (Amy) of Montgomery, TX; 5 grand nieces, 3 grand nephews, and one great grand nephew.

Memorial contributions may be made to Oasis Church of All Nations or to the church or non-profit of your choice.