Anita was a retired elementary school teacher, having taught 34 years, many of those years at Springwood School and more recently at Lafayette Christian School.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Eddie Lanier; his parents, Luke and Gerry Lanier; two daughters, Laura Lanier Davison and her husband, Thomas and Katie Lanier Slade and her husband, Stefan; three grandchildren, Henry Luke Davison (three years old), Anna Karis Slade (two years old), and Emmett James Davison (one year old). She also leaves behind her identical twin sister, Alice Bailey Ward and her husband, John; and sisters, Beth Bailey and Amy Bailey Benningfield and her husband, Jay; and her mother, Evelyn Swain Bailey. Her nieces Jessie Ward, Bailey Benningfield, Morgan Benningfield and nephew, Davis Benningfield, will miss her. Her father, Lt. Col. James D. Bailey, USMC, preceded her in death.
Anita began her travels as part of a military family, shortly after her birth on July 8, 1951, in Birmingham, Alabama. Travels took her all over the United States where home was usually on a military base. She even lived for almost two years in Subic Bay, Philippines, where she attended junior high school.
Anita graduated from Auburn University in 1973 and began her teaching career at Sherwood Elementary in Phenix City, AL. She finished her master’s degree from Auburn in 1976. After a move to West Point, GA, she taught a year at Hollis Hand Elementary in LaGrange, GA, four years at Central Elementary in Lanett, AL, and two years at South Elementary in Lanett. She taught for 20 years at Springwood School in Lanett and finished out her career at Lafayette Christian School in LaGrange.
Anita received many honors during her teaching career. She was Springwood’s Teacher of the Year in 1998 and was then selected as the AISA Private School Teacher of the Year. For ten years she sponsored the Springwood Elementary Drama Club, which she began in 1985. Instructor Magazine purchased and printed many of her teaching ideas and articles from 1980 to 1990. Anita once wrote, “I view each student as a “success story” even though their story isn’t completed. I am responsible for adding a new chapter to their lives, one that will continue to encourage them, motivate them, and make them realize their present and future potential.” Anita’s reputation as one of the teachers who was not embarrassed to perform in front of the entire student body, and one who was a “good sport”, made her one who was called upon frequently at pep rallies, half-time activities at basketball games, school talent shows, etc. Her willingness to participate made her popular with all the students at Springwood.
Volunteer work was an important part of Anita’s world. She sang in many choirs and other Christian singing groups throughout her life. She especially loved singing in the choir at the First United Methodist Church of West Point where she has been a member for 37 years. From Vacation Bible School teacher to Den Mother for a group of Cub Scouts, Anita felt being part of a community meant sharing your time and your talents with others. Cross-stitching was a hobby at which Anita excelled. She won many ribbons at various art shows throughout the region. Her home is a showcase of her beautiful tapestries.
Our family wishes to send a special “Thank You” to everyone who supported Anita in her fight against cancer. Your calls, visits, food deliveries, FB messages, email , cards, letters, and especially your prayers bolstered her spirits and gave her strength to carry on. She often remarked, “Christ is the big C and cancer is the little c.”