Lanier
ATLANTA — Jane Darden Lanier, age 84, died peacefully at her home in Atlanta on April 4, 2026, after several months of health challenges.
Born in Waycross on September 21, 1941, to Elizabeth Conoly and John Wesley Darden, she enjoyed an idyllic smalltown childhood surrounded by her two sisters, younger brother, and three first cousins who lived next door. She was an energetic child who excelled both academically and athletically.
Her family was tightknit and members spent much of their time outdoors, exploring the natural beauty of southeast Georgia and north Florida. Mrs. Lanier attended Waycross High School, where she was a cheerleader, played varsity tennis, and was crowned homecoming queen.
She matriculated to the University of Georgia, where she studied languages and made lifelong friendships in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, spending summers working with sorority sisters in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Colorado. She graduated with honors and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
After college, Mrs. Hicks moved to New York City and landed her dream job as a flight attendant with Pan American Airways, allowing her to see the world. Working during
