Sidney W. Lanier

Published 3:09 pm Tuesday, January 19, 2021

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Mr. Sidney W. Lanier, 80, of Lake Juniper Road in Brewton, passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2021 in a Pensacola, Fla., hospital after a brief illness.

He was a native of the Damascus Community of Brewton and a life-long resident of Brewton. He was a member and deacon of the New Hopewell Baptist Church, a 1958 graduate of W.S. Neal High School, and a U.S. Marine veteran having served in the Vietnam War. While serving in the Marines, he graduated from jet engine mechanic school in Washington, D.C. and Camp Pendleton, Calif., and later graduated from Reid State Technical College. He was a retired pulpmill supervisor for the Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation with 40 years of service. Sidney was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, father-in-law, and he loved his church and church family.

He is survived by his wife, Hailey Ann Pettis Lanier of Brewton; a daughter, Julie (Mark) Madden of Brewton; a son, David (Vickie) Lanier of Flomaton; grandchildren, Jordyn (Alex) Marino, Cassi Lanier, Aleigh Lanier; step-grandchildren, Jayden Knowles, Parker Knowles, Hayes Browning; great-granddaughters, Paisley and Amelia Grace Marino; a sister, Yvonne (Bob) Schwartz of Tuscaloosa; brothers, Frankie (Jan) Lanier of East Brewton, Bobby (Barbara) Lanier of Atmore; a sister-in-law, Georgia Lanier of Brewton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Ruth Greer Lanier; infant son, Daniel Andrew Lanier; a sister, Barbara Lanier Johnson; and a brother, Don Lanier.
Graveside services were held Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at New Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery in Castleberry, with the Rev. James Aubrey Wilson officiating.

Pall bearers were Tex Scott, Calvett Pettis, Jason Pettis, Shon Pettis, Mark Lewis, John Lewis, Billy Owens, and Alex Marino (a fellow Marine who also presented the U.S. Flag in honor of Sidney’s military service to Mrs. Lanier). Honorary pall bearers were Pete Stanovich, Wes Stanovich, Jimmy Moulder, Bob Schwartz, and Howard Hoomes.

Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.