Funeral service for Mary Lou (Tison) Lanier, age 90, of Hillsboro, will be 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Mount View Baptist Church with Bro. Mark Milwee officiating and Parkway Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends for two hours prior to service at the church. Interment will be in Midway Memorial Gardens. Guestbook available at www.parkwayfh.com.
Born June 4, 1936, in Harrisburg, IL to Truman R. Tison and Mary Loudeane Pelhank. She was raised in Pontiac, MI and moved to Chalybeate Springs in Alabama in 1958. This is where she raised her four children and grandchildren and had her family business Lanier Tax Service. She was an accountant for 65 years. She was an avid member in the community over the years. She was a current member of Mt. View Baptist Church and a former member of Chalybeate Springs Baptist Church where she served as secretary, treasurer, VBS director, Sunday school teacher, and sent sympathy cards. She was a lifetime member and served for many years as State Madam President of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Ladies Auxiliary #4185. She was the mentor of fundraising for Heart, Diabetes, and many events volunteering. She used her office as a Red Cross food distribution center where she volunteered her time packaging food boxes for the ones in the county. She was president of the democratic executive committee. She served on the board of United Way. She was Chief Clerk at the polls at Chalybeate Fire Dept. She was a member of the Red Hat Society. She will always be known for sending cards to everyone in the community, family, and friends.
She loved a good gathering, both visiting and hosting. Call me “Mammaw” she would say any time we brought a friend to her house, with her it was the more the merrier. She thought each of her grandkids and great-grandkids hung the moon, she bragged to anyone who would listen, and was elated every time a new baby would join the family. Her heart was so special, she loved to serve and made sure no one went without.
Playing cards into the morning hours wasn’t uncommon. Dachshunds were her dogs of choice. Chocolate and fudge were her favorites. Holidays called for festive outfits with lots of big jewelry and always dressed to match the theme. Grandkids can remember all the stories she would tell us, encouraging us, making our favorite
cakes and never missed a moment to tell us how proud of us she was.
Children: Steve Lanier (Betsy); Pam Lanier Miller; Peggy Lanier King; Caroline Lanier Thompson ( Chris); and Ray Bard. Daughter-in-law, Nena Hall Lanier.
Grandchildren: Lori Neville (Mike); Kristel Lanier; Rachel Lanier; Jennifer Mason(Leslie); Daniel Lanier; Ashley Dobbs (Paul); Brian Miller; Chesley Tuck (C.J.); Kristen Cross (Tyler); Katie Mehra (Vishant); Jessica Gentry (Brian); Stephanie Bard; Melanie Williams (Jason); and Samantha Conklin.
Great-Grands: Chandler (Sophia);Weston; Aiden; Kendall; Leelan; Wheeler; Genevieve; Sawyer; Lilah; Avani; Caleb; Adalyn; Tyler; Kendra; April; Lesley;Nic; Elizabeth; Malcolm; Nathan; MyKyla; Jaxon; Macy (Hayden); Addie; Jenna; and Baby Boy Mehra in two weeks.
Pallbearers will be Ray Bard, Keith Lanier, Austin Lanier, Stacy Goodwin, Leslie Mason, and Vishant Mehra.
Special thanks to Karen Hillis and Clair Byrd, Encompass Hospice Services.
