Boatwright
SARASOTA, Fla. — Diane Holley Boatwright, 76, of Sarasota, Fla., passed away Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Tidewell Hospice House in Lakewood Ranch after a brief illness.
She was born in Fitzgerald, Ga., to Adam Houston Holley and Merle Milton Holley, and went on to call Sarasota home for more than 40 years.
Mrs. Boatwright had a natural gift with numbers and spent her career working in billing and accounting, but more than anything, she loved her family. The moments she cherished most were the simple ones spent together, especially with her grandchildren, who brought her so much joy.
She was preceded in death by her father, Adam Houston Holley, and her two brothers, Mitch Holley and Travis Holley.
Mrs. Boatwright is survived by her daughters, Lindsay Hawker and her husband, Jason, of Bradenton, Fla., and Holly Nelson and her husband, Evan, of Fayetteville, Ga.; her six grandchildren, Jett Hawker, Cash Hawker, Chief Nelson, Wyatt Nelson, Burke Nelson, and Thora Nelson; her mother, Merle Holley; her sister, Cindy Walker of Waycross; her aunt, Peggy King of Waycross; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members who loved her dearly.
A funeral service was held April 12 in the MilesOdum Funeral Home Chapel. Burial took place place April 13 at Evergreen Cemetery in Fitzgerald.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome. com.
the golden age of the jetset era, she developed a lifelong passion for travel and exploring new cultures. While in New York, she began dating another Georgian, John Hicks Lanier, whom she married in 1966.
Over the next 60 years, the two built a wonderful life together, first in New York and later in Atlanta, where they raised three children and doted on six grandchildren. They prioritized travel with family and friends, and their adventures took them across Europe, Africa, and South America, as well as on annual family trips to Nantucket and the Caribbean.
Mrs. Lanier was a dedicated community leader, serving on the boards of the Atlanta Speech School, High Museum of Art, Piedmont Healthcare Foundation, and the University of Georgia Foundation. She was a loyal parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Philip, where she taught children’s Sunday school. Additionally, she was a longtime member of the Forward Arts Foundation, Peachtree Garden Club, Piedmont Driving Club, Nantucket Golf Club, Colony Club of New York, and the Everglades Club in Palm Beach.
Fiercely competitive, Mrs. Hicks loved golf, tennis, and any card or parlor game she could play with family and friends. She was devoted to the arts, visiting museums around the world and rarely missing a performance at the Alliance Theatre or the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Hicks remained, at heart, a small-town girl who valued people and relationships above all else. She connected effortlessly with others of every age and background, always asking thoughtful questions and making her companions feel like the most important people in the world.
Mrs. Hicks had a remarkable memory, able to recall names, dates, and the smallest details. Her sense of humor was marvelous, and she was the absolute best dinner partner. She made every room warmer, every moment lighter. Being with her simply made life more fun. Her life was grounded in her faith, shaped by both Episcopal and Presbyterian traditions, and in her family.
Known as “J.J.” to her grandchildren, Mrs. Hicks taught them to never take themselves too seriously and to never meet a stranger. She enjoyed an especially deep bond with her sisters, Betty Hatcher and Ruth Foss, through every chapter of life. All three adored their brother Johnny Darden, with whom they shared countless laughs until his passing in 2016.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Hicks; her children, Jay Lanier of Dallas, Texas; Liza Jancik (Brad); and Stephen Lanier (Landon); and her grandchildren, Jane, Elizabeth, and Matthew Jancik, and Hicks, Christopher, and Caroline Lanier, all of Atlanta. The family would like to recognize the loyal and loving friendship that Jane shared with Charo Trujillo for nearly two decades, and to thank the home health professionals who cared for her with love and dedication in recent months.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at the Cathedral of St. Philip, followed by a reception at the Swan Coach House. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Atlanta Speech School or the Cathedral of St. Philip.
