Mrs. Sylvia Smith Lanier

Silvia Sue Smith Lanier, 81, of Albany, died Friday, April 10, 2015 at her home. Her funeral service will be at 11 AM on Monday, April 13, 2015 at Byne Memorial Baptist Church with interment to follow at Riverside Cemetery. The Rev. Dr. Matthew Nance will officiate. The family will receive friends at Byne Memorial Baptist Church on Monday prior to the funeral beginning at 10 AM. Mrs. Lanier was born on April 14, 1933 in Plains, GA to Oliver Crawford Smith and Susie Antoinette Senn Smith. She was the valedictorian of Plains High School Class of 1949. She attended two years at Georgia Southwestern, two years at Mercer, and received her Masters Degree in education from Peabody (now part of Vanderbilt University) in 1954. She taught PE in Cartersville, GA, then in Camilla before teaching at Albany High School from 1957-1959. She left the school system between 1960-1971 to raise her children. She took classes at Albany Junior College (now Darton College) to become certified as a librarian. She returned to work in the Dougherty County School System at Sylvandale Elementary School in 1971. She left the Dougherty County School System and worked as a librarian in the Lee County School System at Lee County Elementary School until her retirement in 1990. Mrs. Lanier was a member of Byne Memorial Baptist Church since 1949. She participated actively in international mission trips to Brazil, Germany, Panama, Mexico, England, Korea, as well as many trips within the United States. She started the church library in 1963, and served as the church librarian almost continually until 2000. She taught Sunday School from 1956-2014, with the last 10 years with internationals teaching English as a second language. She was much loved by all whom she taught. She began teaching “Experiencing God” at Calhoun State Prison in 1999 with First Baptist Church. A year later, Byne Memorial Baptist Church began teaching “Experiencing God” at Autry State Prison. She taught faithfully at Autry State Prison until 2010. She played city league women’s basketball for several years and church league softball some years later. She was known as a devout Christian with a servant’s heart. Her hobbies included nature photography. She was a member of the Sunbelt Photography Club and the Albany Audubon Society. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Wiley Post Smith. Mrs. Lanier’s survivors include her husband: William Donald Lanier, Albany; brother: Will Rogers Smith, Georgetown, GA; children: Lewis Tod Lanier, David Charles Lanier and his wife Cathy Lynn, Sue Angeline Lanier Freeman and her husband Greg, all of Albany; grandchildren: Amanda Leigh Lanier, Nathan Donald Lanier and his wife Anna, Andrew Martin Lanier and his wife Brittany, Lanier Allen Freeman, and Kendyll Ashley Freeman. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Living the Legacy, c/o Byne Memorial Baptist Church, 2832 Ledo Rd., Albany, GA 31707.

Mrs. Sylvia Smith Lanier

April 14, 1933 - April 10, 2015