Betty Lanier
Betty Lane Raney Lanier (88) passed away December 28, 2023, in Legacy Village which had been her home for the past five years.
Betty was born in LaGrange, Kentucky on April 2, 1935. At six months of age, Betty and her mother were abandoned by her father. She and her mother returned to Cincinnati, Ohio where Betty spent the remainder of her growing up years. Ann Raney never remarried and raised her daughter in a godly home instilling principles of faith and kindness. They were faithful members of the 12th & Elm Street church in Cincinnati that was later known as the Central Parkway Church of God.
At the age of 17, Betty and her best friend, Naomi, enrolled in Lee College. While at Lee, she met the love of her life, David Lanier, a ministry student from Florida. David was also the bass singer for The Master’s Quartet. That relationship evolved into lifelong friendships with all the members and spouses of the quartet. Betty and David’s love led to a marriage which spanned 55 years.
Betty loved serving alongside her husband in ministry life. She was best known for her many acts of kindness and her sweet spirit. In their early ministry, Betty and David evangelized in Ohio, Virginia, Florida, and West Virginia. They transitioned to pastoral ministry and pastored churches in Ohio and Florida. They also served the Church of God denomination as State Evangelism Director of Florida and State Overseer of Iowa, Michigan, and South Georgia. The last few years of ministry were spent in foreign missions’ work. Their travels took them to many countries where they were instrumental in establishing churches and providing funding for ministerial training.
Retirement from pastoral work and the opportunity to be more actively involved in missions work brought them to Cleveland, Tn. in 1990. When David’s health issues arose, Betty was a loving caregiver as he battled Parkinson’s until his death in 2008. Throughout her 13 years of dementia, she maintained a genuine Christian spirit and sense of contentment.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. William David Lanier; mother, Annie Gertrude Lane Raney; father, Howard Elwood Raney; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lewis and Melisia Lanier; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Marguerite and Lorenzo Walker; niece, Barbara Ann Vickery and husband, Jim; and her lifelong best friend, Naomi Brockman Saylor.
She is survived by her daughter, Su Ann Vining (John), daughter, Joni Carmella Pickles (Jim); granddaughters, Meredith Suzanne Parker (Jonathan), Melani Suzanne Vining, Megan Suzanne Hood; and three great-grandchildren, Dalen Davis Hood, Olivia Grace Parker, and Cola Leese Hood; niece, Carolyn Walker Hammond Johnson; several special great-nieces and a host of friends.
The family is very grateful for the excellent care from the staff at Legacy Village of Cleveland and Hearth Hospice. Shelly Surbeck, Lisa Cook, Scott Farley, and a whole host of compassionate caregivers have helped to give Mother a quality of life during her difficult dementia journey.
The Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 11 a.m. at Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Chapel with Drs. John and Su Vining officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Olive Cemetery with Reverend Jonathan Parker officiating. Dalen Hood, Jonathan Parker, Danny Johnson, Franklin Odom, Phillip Looney, and Kevin Mendel will serve as casket bearers.
Honorary casket bearer in absentia is Keith Saylor. Graveside service will be led by Rev. Jonathan Parker. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Chapel who has charge of the arrangements. You may share your condolences and your memories with the Lanier family at www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com. For family and friends who cannot attend the service you can watch the service by Live Stream by clicking on the following link: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcwMzkwODg4OTI4ODA2MiZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJnZpZXdfYnV0dG9u