Lauren Alexis Whinery

A daughter. A sister. A friend to all. A servant. A leader. A young woman after the Lord's heart.

Lauren embodied every single one of these qualities seamlessly.

Now, an angel.

Our precious Lauren Alexis Whinery was welcomed into the world on December 5th, 2003, to her loving parents Tom and Janelle (Homsey) Whinery, and her sweet big brother Hunter. She absolutely completed our beautiful family.

Lauren attended Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she graduated in 2022 with high academic honors. Lauren delivered The Class of 2022 Commencement Speech to her classmates wishing them the very best for their futures ahead of them. Lauren was a Hawkeye through and through. She bled black and gold, and her heart always remained in her home state of lowa! "GO HAWKS!"

She enjoyed coffee dates, family vacations, spring and fall break vacations with her sorority sisters/ friends, movie nights, boating, shopping, laying out, photoshoots, using "girl math", going to the beach, going out with friends, walking into the airport "Like a boss", and late night college road trips to Buc-ee's or anywhere with her friends. She also loved going to concerts, attending ALL Bama sporting events, and all Alpha Gam events. Her most prized possession was her Range Rover "Regina" aka "white top". Lauren also enjoyed family time and traditions, especially playing UNO every Christmas Eve (we think she cheated sometimes). Christmas was her favorite holiday, as it was the birth of Jesus. Lauren was always very adventurous and up to do virtually anything! She definitely lived life to the fullest. We all need to "Live Life Like Lauren" and "Love Like Lauren!"

To know Lauren was to love her. We all had the greatest honor to know and love her like we did. Her joy, her loyalty, her drive, her faith, her pure heart, her love for Jesus and others will live with us all until we see her again. Lauren lit up every single room she graced. Turned tears into laughter. Stress into peace. Sadness into joy. There is truly not a soul as beautiful as hers. Now, she is with the Creator of her precious heart and mind. She is whole in His presence without an ache of this world in sight. She is in perfect form walking the streets of gold. But, oh how this world and her people will miss her. Every single day from this point forward, we must carry her legacy and come together for her. She will be cherished and remembered by every soul she touched in just her 20 years of beautiful life.

Lauren demonstrated service, humbleness, empathy, hard-work, and did it all with her gorgeous smile on her face in every aspect of her life. In just 20 years, Lauren accomplished more than most people could during an entire lifelime. Over the course of her life, Lauren completed hundreds of service hours and has been the most incredible leader in every environment she has been placed in.

This was all completed in under 18 years. Lauren was the perfect picture of what it means to be determined and holding a heart of service. Our precious Lauren achieved all of these honors while also being the most incredible daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend. Her life is a testament to the Lord's goodness and sacrificial love. This was just the beginning of her life and success.

Lauren decided to carry on her immense set of skills and success to the University of Alabama in Fall of 2022, planning to graduate in May of 2026. Lauren received The University of Alabama Competitive Merit Scholarship and several other academic scholarships to go towards her education at The Capstone. She planned to pursue a degree in Marketing, with concentrations in Sales and Global & Cultural Perspectives. She was last recognized on the UA President's List for the Spring of 2024, receiving a 4.0 GPA.

On top of all of these remarkable accomplishments, Lauren also found time to foster hundreds of friendships, specifically with the women in the Psi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta. This was her family at the University of Alabama, and she will be honored by them in every way from this point forward.

Lauren attended Shuevville United Methodist while in lowa. She was very active within the church. Lauren and her parents served the Lord through a Mission Trip in 2021 with their church family, where they together grew closer to God and deeper into their faith. Lauren also attended The Church of the Highlands in Tuscaloosa, AL on Sundays and Tuesday nights with ONE College Ministry. She devoted her life fully to the Lord her Spring Semester of Sophomore Year, with Unite US. She was baptized in a fountain in Tuscaloosa with hundreds of other students to display her rededication to Jesus. Lauren lived a life not for herself, but for others and Christ. She prayed for the Lord to use her daily, and He still will with her in Heaven by His side. Jesus was preparing Lauren step-by-step to come home to Him, as she was just too good for this world. Her higher purpose and calling to life was to be with Him. Jesus knew her name when she entered the gates of Heaven on July 1st. He embraced her and was beyond proud of her earthly time, as it was evident that she lived it for Him.

Lauren's beautiful spirit will live on through her precious family: Tom, Janelle, and Hunter Whinery. The bond she shared with her brother was unlike any other. Lauren is also dearly loved and missed by her Grandfather, Robert Whinery and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. She loved her family more than anything. They hold the honor of raising the most incredible young woman. Her sweet dog and companion, Rizzo, will also miss his sissv's "butt rubs" and love. Her many friends in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Cape Coral, Florida; and Tuscaloosa, Alabama will carry on her memory in everything they do. A day will not pass that we will not think of her.

Lauren's passing was followed by her Grandmother Janet Homsey, Grandmother Joyce Whiner, Grandfather John Homsey Sr., her uncle John Homsey Jr. and her best companion, her dog, Hawkeye. They are taking care of her and watching over her in Heaven as we speak.

A piece of our hearts will always be missing. Let us fill that void with the love and joy that Lauren carried with her each and every day.

To honor her cherished memory, The Lauren Whinery Scholarship has been established to benefit a deserving student at The University of Alabama on an annual basis as well as scholarships for the AGD (Alpha Gamma Delta) Sorority and Prairie High School. Your contribution will keep Lauren's memory and spirit alive while continuing her mission of empowering people and providing opportunities to others.

Lauren touched the lives of so many in Cape Coral, Florida, Ely, lowa, her hometown, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama (T-TOWN), her happy place.

To honor and celebrate the most well-lived life, there will be three memorials held in all three locations. The first celebration will be held in Cape Coral, FL, July 27th, beginning at 10am. The following celebration will be held in Swisher, IA, on August 17th, starting at 4pm. Finally, the last memorial held will be in Tuscaloosa, AL, on August 24th, at 10am at the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority house. However, the celebration and honor of her life will not end there. We will forever carry Lauren in our hearts and celebrate her life every time we think about her.

Lastly, as our Angel Lauren would say... "Love Y'all" and "Roll Tide"!

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.