Sharon Lanier

Sharon Lanier, April 4, 1934–January 28, 2023

She was born In Duplin County, North Carolina to Herbert and Piccola Lanier. She was very popular in high school, a star athlete, and President of her senior class. Summers were spent at Topsail Beach and Catherine’s Lake, transporting numerous nieces and nephews for swim parties. She graduated at ECU, Greenville and received a MSW at UNC Chapel Hill.
She also attended both Tulane University and Smith College for post graduate studies. Initially she began work as a psychiatric social worker at Dorothea Dix Hospital. Shortly thereafter, in 1964 she joined the faculty at the School of Social Work, UNC at Chapel Hill where she taught both professional practice and field instruction courses. Serving as an essay and faculty advisor she inspired numerous students who went on to make contributions to the field of social work throughout the country. A major focus of her work at UNC involved establishing training sites at Dorothea Dix Hospital, Family Services, Methodist Children’s Home, North Carolina Correctional Center for Women, North Carolina Center for Alcoholics, and the Wake County Department of Social Services. Following her retirement from UNC in 1980 she set up a private clinical practice in Raleigh and helped set up at the Wake County Department of Social Services the first Child and Family Sexual Abuse Treatment Program in North Carolina . She served as the Clinical Director, providing direct therapy services , as well as education for the community at large until her second retirement in 1997. As a pioneer in this field she served as a consultant and trainer at numerous conferences to hundreds of professionals across the state of North Carolina in how to establish a similar program in their communities. She was able to present her work at an International Conference in Montreal , Canada. Through her unusual depth and sensitive capacity for relationships, learning , and growth she continued to motivate and inspire her students and colleagues throughout her years of service and beyond. She was held in high regard by all who worked with her as a colleague or friend needing a wise and kind soul.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brothers Marion, Harold, Kenneth, Elbert Lanier and her sister Bernice Bryan. She is survived by her companion, Gaye Styron and her sister Beatrice Lanier, as well as, nephews Elwood Lanier, Dean Bryan, Greg Bryan and nieces Rita Hawley, Andra Whaley, Joy Jones Young, Val Sanders, Linda Lanier, Martha Lanier and Lora Smith. She also leaves numerous grand nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly and supported in any way possible.
A special thanks is given to her friends, Norma Collins of Davidson, Merya Wolfe of Cary, Susan Shields and Pat DeBoer of Raleigh and niece Andra Whaley of Beulaville who were especially attentive and supportive during her weeks of illness.
A memorial service is being held at the Bethel Presbyterian Church, 1640 Jackson Store Road, Beulaville, NC on February 4 at 1:00 PM. A Celebration of Life is being held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh , 3313 Wade Avenue, Raleigh, NC on February 17 at 3:00 PM.
Memorial donations in Sharon’s memory may be made to the SAFEchild Advocacy Center, 864 West Morgan Street, Raleigh, NC 27603.