Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Marshall Lanier

LANIER, Marshall L.

Funeral services for Dr. Marshall L. Lanier, 95, De Soto, Texas, are scheduled for 11:00 A.M., Thursday, August 20. 2015, at Jarvis Christian College at Charles A. Meyer Auditorium with the Rev. Claude O. Maples, Officiant and Rev. Olin Fregia, eulogist.

Burial will be in Pioneer Cemetery in Hawkins, Tx under direction of Community Funeral Home of Tyler.

Dr. Lanier died August 13, 2015 at Select Specialist Hospital in Dallas, TX. He was born January 12, 1920, in Halifax, VA and had resided in Desoto formerly of Tyler. He graduated from Halifix County Training School. Afterwards, he studied at Wilberforce University, where he met Dorothy Copeland, whom he married in 1942. Following a four-year U.S. Army enlistment which took him to North Africa, Italy, and the Philippines, he returned to the U.S. after being honorably discharged and resumed his education at Tuskegee University in 1945.

He majored in agronomy and received the B.S.A. degree in 1948 and the M.S. A. degree in 1950. At East Texas State University in 1971, he earned the Ph. D. degree with a major in secondary and higher education and a minor in earth science. Dr. Lanier’s professional career was varied. In Arkansas, he taught veterans in Phillips County, served as assistant County Agent in Miller County, conducted a weekly radio segment on Texarkana’s KOSY radio station, served as principal of Sparkman Training School, and he served consecutively as instructor of physical science and director of special services at East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City. He served as adjunct professor of education on the graduate faculty of Arkansas State University and as graduate extension professor in secondary school curriculum at East Texas State University.

Twenty six years of his professional career were spent at Jarvis Christian College, where he was granted tenure in 1970. He served the college as instructor of earth science, director of student teaching, chair of the Division of Teacher Education, and professor of education. He held this position until his retirement in 1985. Dr. Lanier’s professional memberships included the Arkansas Education Association, Texas State Teachers Association, National Education Association, Texas Society of College Teachers of Education, Society of Professors of Education, The Texas and the National Association of Teacher Educators, The Association for Childhood Education International, Phi Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi. He is listed in Personalities of the South, Who’s Who Among Black Americans, and Who’s Who in the South and Southwest. Dr. Lanier was well-known for his professional relationship with East Texas schools, where he supervised Jarvis student teachers.

He was also known for his service to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a member of the evaluation teams for Hawkins, Greenville, and Tyler public schools. At Tuskegee, he was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 1946. In Texas, he held memberships in Pi Upsilon Chapter in Hawkins and Sigma Omicron in Tyler, As an avid golfer for many years, he was a member of the Cross Creek Golf Association and was rewarded with five holes-in-one. Additionally, he enjoyed gardening and traveling abroad. Dr. Lanier was a faithful member of the Jarvis College Christian Church, where he served as an elder, Sunday school teacher, and vice-chair of the board. His Christian faith and daily pre-dawn bible study enveloped him with an uncommon peace and a joy for living. He was preceded in death by his devoted and loving wife of 68 years, Dr. Dorothy C. Lanier.

Survivors include sons: Frederick Delano (Ingrid) Lanier, Rockwall, TX and Adrien Copeland (Maxine) Lanier, LeHigh Acres, FL, daughter: Mrs. Vanessa Colleen Lanier (Larry) King, Desoto, TX; 5 grandchildren: Lamar (Shuna) Lanier, Avery (Veronica) Lanier, LaVita Adrianna Lanier (Michael) Taylor, Ronald King, and Prince King; two great granddaughters: Olivia Lanier and Adrianna Lanier; one great grandson, Grant King; brother: John Douglas Lanier, Lynchburg, VA; sisters: Mrs. Bertha Carrington, Philadelphia, PA and Mrs. Louise Chaney, Richmond, VA.;three sisters-in-law, Mrs. Jerline Lanier, Lynchburg, VA, Mrs. Betty Lanier, Richmond, VA, and Mrs. Carolyn Lanier, South Boston, VA and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and the Jarvis Christian College Family.

The family requests that memorials be made to Jarvis Christian College for the Dr. Marshall Lanier Scholarship Fund. Contributions can be sent to the office of Institutional Advancement, Jarvis Christian College, P.O. Box 1470, Hawkins, Texas 75765, or through the college website at www.jarvis.edu.

Viewing will be from 6:00 P. M. – 7:00, Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at Community Funeral Home of Tyler. To view online or to sign the guestbook