Mrs. Lavinia ponder was born to Charlie and Sallie Dabbs in 1873 in Taylor,Texas. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and served her church family in many auxiliaries. She had a fourth grade education, but she continued to receive higher learning when she became an adult. In 1891 she was united in Holy Matrimony to Samuel Dewey Ponder. Twelve children were born to this union, five boys, Henry, Willie, Dewey, Eldridge and Edward, twins, and seven girls, Maggie, Bertha, Ora LC, Sallie, Lois, Lucille,and Elsie Mae. They Moved to Oklahoma in 1917 and migrated to ElReno, Oklahoma in 1932 where she lived until her death. Her husband Samuel, twin son Eldridge and daughters Sallie, Maggie, Elsie Mae all preceded her in death.
Lavina was affectionally caled Vina, Moma, and grandma Vina and auntie Vina. Mrs. Lavinia loved gardening, canning and cooking. She loved cooking for her family and friends for she was a great cook. She also was a great seamstres, and passed her passion on to her daughters and many of her granddaughters. Moving to ElReno, Oklahoma in 1932 she placed her membership with the Sunrise Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend M. C. Griffin, Pastor and served as a loyal, committed and dedicated Mother of the church and Sunday School teacher. She loved singing and when her youngest granddaughters, Lola Mae, Cleo and Ruth L. grew up she organized them as the "The Ponder Girls Trio". She was a very avid reader of the bible and many great books. Mother Ponder shared her wisdom from God to people from various walks of life in her church and communities. Her belieth was always to help and share your best what God has blessed you with as you walk and talk here on God's earth, and remember that we walk by faith not by sight. Mother Lavinia Ponder had a very loving, caring, sharing spirit. and she lived her life to the fullest sharing the word of God.