Monday, June 12, 2017 4:52 pm

Mavis Whitley Lanier, age 86, of Rocky Mount, passed away on Thursday, June 8, 2017. Born in Wilson County on October 19, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Eddie Thomas Whitley and Bessie Griffin Whitley. She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Eric Earl Lanier, Sr.; daughter, Mavis Wanda Lanier Higson; grandson, Chadwick Higson; brothers, Harvey Whitley, Eddie Whitley, David Whitley, Clyde Whitley, Andre Whitley, and Kenneth Whitley; and sisters Esther Wiggins, Virginia Balkeum, Francis Edwards, Margaret Martin, and Ethel McSwan.

She is survived by her sons Eric E. Lanier, Jr. (Melanie), Stephen Keith Lanier (Jennifer), Mitchell Derrick Lanier (Bonnie), and Phillip David Lanier (Thom); 10 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren; her sister, Helen Swindle.

Services were held Sunday, June 11, 2017 in the Chapel of Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Mavis' son, Rev. Eric Lanier, Jr. officiating. Burial followed at Rocky Mount Memorial Park.

Flowers are welcome or in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mavis' name to the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401-7335.

Arrangements by Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Rocky Mount.