Mrs. Varis Neal West

Mrs. Varis Neal West (85) of Answered the Saviors Call on August 12,2025. Visitation will be 2PM-4PM. August 19, 2025, at Chandler’s Funeral Home 1425 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Sarasota, FL.34234.  Viewing will be August 20,2025 in Orlando, FL. at the Orlando World Outreach Church 4365 Kennedy Ave, Orlando, FL. 32812, from 3PM-5PM, followed by the Home Going Service from 5PM-6PM.  Varis Neal West was born on April 15, 1940, in Mullins, South Carolina, to the late Grace Hazel Smith and the late Hubert Reaves Sr.  She grew up in Mullins, graduating from Palmetto High School in 1957.  From an early age, her life was marked by faith, family, and friendship.  She was an active member of Mount Olive Baptist Church, joyfully singing in the choir, and she poured her heart into helping others—whether working at Winn-Dixie or serving the elderly through the Marion County Council Agency.  Life took her to many places, but in 1982, she settled in Sarasota, Florida, a city she would call home for over 40 years.  There, she built a career in banking, working at Barnett Bank, SunTrust, and Bank of America for more than three decades. In Sarasota she met Richard—her companion in life—and they were married on April 2, 2005.  In 2023, wanting to be closer to family, Varis moved to Orlando.  Every Sunday, she could be found at the 11AM service at Orlando World Outreach Church because all of her “friends” were there.  Though she had known the Lord all her life, earlier this year she made the decision to be baptized, celebrating a renewed and personal walk with Jesus Christ that brought her so much joy and peace.  To her loved ones, she was Ma, Mama V, Grandma, Grandma Ms. V, Badie, Bouge, or Aunt Vi—and to just about everyone else, she was a friend. She never met a stranger.  Her home, her table, and her heart were always open.  She was mother to many, a loyal and dependable friend, and a force to be reckoned with at a Spades or Bid Whist table—quick with both her cards and her playful trash talk.  Varis lived a life full of love, laughter, and connection.  She will be remembered not just for what she did, but for how she made people feel—seen, valued, and loved.  She leaves to cherish her memories, her husband Richard Allen West of Sarasota, FL. She had 4 children, Joseph Crawford of Atlanta, Ga., Cynethia Le’Chelle Johnson (Timothy) of Orlando, FL, Gayle Antoinette Mitchell (James) of Lillington, NC. and the late Samuel Crawford; Two sisters, Gloria Spratley and Virginia K. Samuels.  Three brothers, Hubert Reaves, Jr., Dwight Reaves, and Paul Reaves; Five grandchildren, Christa G. Trinidad (Christopher), Kayla E. Johnson, Karrah G. Augustin (Richstandley), Shaun O. Johnson and Z. Cole Platt; and host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arrangements entrusted in Chandler’s Funeral Home.