Luci Ann LaVenture Obituary

Luci Ann LaVenture

Pastor Luci Ann LaVenture, of Friendship, went to be with the Lord on Friday, July 4, 2025, at Olean General Hospital. Luci was born in Cuba on April 5, 1951. She spent most of her life in Allegany County and the Western NY region. The daughter of Clarence and Lucille Groves, she was raised in West Clarksville until the family moved to Friendship in 1963. She attended Friendship Central School and Alfred State College. As part of her career, she served as the Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Agency in Belmont and the Director and Southern Tier Regional Manager of the Better Business Bureau in Olean from which she retired. She even hosted a local informational TV show entitled Absolutely Luci for our local public broadcasting station.

Luci was a lifelong member of the Friendship Church of God in Christ, Friendship. Serving as a Sunday School Teacher, the Sunday School Superintendent, the Church Administrator, Praise & Worship Leader, Evangelist Missionary, and most recently the Pastor. In 1998, she was ordained an Evangelist Missionary, and in 2004, she became church overseer, and in 2010, she became Pastor of Friendship Church of God in Christ (COGIC), Friendship. She felt led to open Friendship COGIC Food Pantry in the early 1990’s which later turned into Friendship COGIC Mission AGAPE Food Pantry in 1999. Mission AGAPE’s ministry has seen tremendous growth throughout its 27 year history, feeding thousands in Friendship, Allegany County, and across the southern tier region. Beyond reaching families in need through biweekly food services, the program also launched a summer lunch program for Friendship children “Miss Heather's Brown Bag Lunch”, hosted a Back-to-School Initiative where she provided supplies for students in the fall, and held special holiday distributions at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas for families.

Luci is survived by her husband, Emmanuel LaVenture of Friendship; son/nephew, Quincy Groves of Wellsville, and Curtis Groves of Friendship; daughter/niece, Lindsey (Jean Paul) Mwene of Rochester; granddaughter Ellise Mwene of Rochester; 4 siblings, Joseph (Sandy) Groves of Friendship, Pierre Jean Baptiste of Brooklyn, Arnold LaVenture of Brooklyn, Dr. Marie Josee (Kesner) Celestin of Dacula, GA. As well as many nieces and nephews that she loved as children including, Nadine Barber of Friendship, Elizabeth (Brian) Barber Cowburn of Ulysses, PA, Mark Barber of Olean, Felicia Barber of New Haven, CT, Anthony (Megan) Solomon of Friendship, James (Debra) Solomon of Kansas, KS, Regina (Darrin) Harmon of Friendship, Rachel Solomon of Hershey, PA, and Troy Groves of Ft. Meyers, FL. As well as many cousins, great nieces and nephews, friends, area clergy, and local community members.

Luci was predeceased by her daughter, Heather Nickens; 3 siblings, Eunice Barber, Rev. Russell Groves, and Naomi Solomon; nieces and nephews; Odis Lee Barber, Jr., Michael Barber, Lynn Green, and Tamika Russell.

The celebration of life service will be held at Friendship Church of God in Christ, at 77 West Main Street, Friendship, on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 11:00 am. Family and friends may attend the viewing on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, from 4:00pm to 8:00 pm at Treusdell Funeral Home, 50 E. Main Street, Friendship; and on Thursday 10:00 am to11:00 am at Friendship COGIC. The service will be officiated by Elder Claude Oliver, Master's Child Church, Indian Head, MD. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed by clicking on the button below.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friendship Church of God in Christ or Mission AGAPE Food Pantry, at PO Box 35, 77 West Main Street, Friendship, NY 14739.