Emily Lanier was 9 when she committed herself to the Salvation Army. It was a decision that had nothing to do with the fact that her parents, the late Mattie and Earl V. Farmer, were involved and eventually became officers.
In fact, she'd chosen the officer's path for herself before they did. It's something she wrote about at 18 when she applied to the organization's School for Officer Training.
"She started early and didn't know of anything better, more gratifying and satisfying," said Lt. Rodolph Lanier, her husband of 60 years. "She had a career that was a great opportunity for service, loving and ministering, as well as meeting valuable friends. "
On Sunday, Col. Emily Lanier of Cumming died from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at Northside Hospital-Forsyth. She was 81. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Salvation Army Temple on North Druid Hills Road. McDonald & Son Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Lanier was born in Asheville, N.C., but moved with her family to Charlotte, then New Bern, N.C. There she became a junior soldier in the Salvation Army, along with her brothers, Richard and Gary.
In 1948, she received her commission and her first assignment as an assisting officer responsible for youth activities in Greenville, S.C.
After marrying Mr. Lanier in 1949, she joined him at his appointment in Winston Salem, N.C. The couple served in various roles through the years with Mrs. Lanier assigned to the youth or women divisions. Assignments included divisional headquarters in Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Kentucky-Tennessee and, finally, the organization's territorial headquarters in Atlanta.
In 1991, the Laniers retired. Her career spanned 43 years, two months and 22 days.
The couple never pressured their two sons to serve, though one did. Steven, the eldest, even served in Oklahoma City, just like his parents. A major, he was killed in a 1999 car accident.
"My brother followed in their footsteps, but they never pushed for that," said Lance Lanier, a son from Norcross. "My parents followed their roles beautifully to serve others, and he was a great officer as well. His wife is still an officer."
In retirement, the couple settled in Cumming where neighborhood kids called Mrs. Lanier "Miss Emily." They also befriended Salvation Army retirees like Louise and Lamar Foreman of Gainesville.
Like Mrs. Lanier, Mrs. Foreman's parents had been in the Salvation Army. And like Mrs. Lanier, she didn't spend 52 years in the organization because her parents had belonged.
"Oh gosh no, that's not why we do it," Mrs. Foreman said. "I went in when I was 19, but I had said all my life I wouldn't. But when the time came, I went in and never thought about getting out. I don't know. We feel like it's a calling in our life to do it."
Additional survivors include a brother, Gary Farmer of Asheville, N.C.; and three grandchildren.
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