Reba Rebecca "Becky" Lanier

Beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Nurse, and Woman of Faith

Reba Rebecca “Becky” Lanier passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord on Wednesday, December 3rd, leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, and unwavering faith. To her family and to all who knew her, she was far more than a name. She was Mama, Nana, Aunt Nana, and GranNan. These titles were her greatest joy.

Becky was a strong woman, quietly powerful in the way only a mother of many can be. Her faith was the foundation of her life, and she lived it by example. Through kindness, generosity, resilience, and daily prayer, she reminded everyone around her what true devotion looked like. She prayed for her family every single day, and those prayers are still wrapped around us today. She prayed with such conviction that we are certain those prayers will continue to follow us for the rest of our days.

Becky also devoted many years of her life to caring for others as a nurse. Her love for people extended far beyond her family and into everyone she met. She had a way of comforting the hurting, encouraging the weary, and offering compassion when it was needed most. Nursing was not just her profession; it was an extension of her heart and a reflection of her calling to serve. Countless lives were touched by her steady hands, her calm presence, and her deep belief that everyone deserved to feel cared for and valued.

She also had a remarkable creative side. Becky sewed, crocheted, and knitted countless blankets, dolls, clothing, and keepsakes for her family. Each stitch was made with love, and many of us will forever hold something she crafted with her own hands… a tangible reminder of the warmth and devotion she poured into everything she did.

Her greatest happiness came from her family. Becky was the proud mother of Patti Vaughan, Terri Miller, Michelle Poole, and Darrell Lanier. She had 23 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren, all of whom she celebrated and loved deeply. She is also survived by her siblings BettyAnn Newsome and Wayne Thackston. Becky is preceded in death by her daughters Darlene Vickery and Tammy Goltz, her husbands James W Stanford and John H Lanier Sr, her parents Doyle Thackston and Inez Thackston, and her brothers Jimmy Thackston and Morris Thackston. We take comfort in knowing she is reunited with them now, held in the eternal peace she so faithfully believed in.

Anyone who spent even a few minutes with her walked away with two things: a story that made them smile and the unmistakable certainty that they were loved. Becky treasured every gathering, every laugh, every meal, and every small moment she shared with her family. She remembered birthdays, celebrated milestones, and prayed over every hardship as if it were her own.

Though she has left this earth, her presence remains in the countless lives she touched, the patients she comforted, the blankets she stitched, and the faith she planted so deeply within her family. Her love was wide. Her spirit was steady. Her prayers were powerful. We find peace knowing she is finally home, surrounded by the fullness of God’s love, reunited with those she longed to see again.

Her family will continue to honor her by loving one another deeply, retelling the stories she shared, and holding tight to faith just as she taught us. And when we feel a soft nudge of comfort on a hard day, we will know exactly what it is… her prayers still covering us, just like they always have.

We will love her and carry her in our hearts for the rest of our lives.