Colonel Joseph "Red" Howard Lanier Jr.

COLUMBIA - A funeral service for Colonel Joseph “Red” Howard Lanier, 85, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at New Heights Church, 5501 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC, with burial in Bush River Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, and other times at the residence. Serving as active pallbearers, Jim Braddock, Steve Gordon, Dan Bledsoe, Steve Smith, Tom Amaro, Ricky Grubbs, Fred Riddle, and Bryant Matthews. Honorary pallbearers will be Richland County Sheriff’s Department, members of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Project Hope, members of the SC Highway Patrol, and any law enforcement members able to attend. Honor guard will be provided by the SC Highway Patrol and Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Colonel Lanier died Sunday, March 21, 2021. Born in Columbia, SC he was a son of the late Joseph Howard Lanier, Sr. and Gretchen Miller Lanier. A 1953 graduate of Eau Claire High School, he served in the U.S. Marine Corp, and attended the University of South Carolina. In February 1957, he attended Patrol School. He worked for the South Carolina Highway Patrol from 1957 as a Patrolman until he retired after 34 years of service as the Colonel in October 1990. As Colonel, his other achievements included creation of the SWAT Team, Patrol Ford Mustang program, Project Readiness Physical Fitness program, Physical Fitness Pioneer award, and the Colonel J.H. Lanier award presented for excellence and physical fitness to a member of each highway patrol graduating class. He began working at Richland County Sherriff’s Department in 1999, where he was employed at the time of his death. Throughout the years, he was stationed in cities in South Carolina which included Dillon, Clio, Lake View, Kingstree, Florence, and Columbia. He was the vice president of South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer’s Association and served as its president in 1985. Mr. Lanier also served as a chairman for SC Criminal Justice Academy and as regional chairman for four years for the International Association of Chiefs of Police. His awards and certificates included Supervision of Police Personnel Northwestern University, President’s Council on Physical Fitness – Letter of Recognition from President Reagan, Optimist Club Officer of the Year, Police Officer of the Year, American Legion Officer of the Year, and Strom Thurmond Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement. He also received the National Defense Service award and the Good Conduct medal from the U.S. Marine Corp Association.

Surviving are Frances B. Lanier, his wife of 63 years; children, Joseph “Joey” H. Lanier III (Cindy) of Chapin, SC, Jennifer L. Leventis (Leigh) of Columbia, SC, Andrew David Lanier of Columbia, SC, and Cecil Derrick Lanier (Wendy) of Irmo, SC; grandchildren, Morgan Lanier, Jody Lanier IV, Anna Frances Lanier, Kaitlin Culler (Aaron), Chandler Lanier, Joe Leventis, Chris Leventis, Mary Katherine Leventis; brother-in-law, Donald Dye; and niece, Regina Owings. He was predeceased by his beloved grandson, Jamie Leventis and his sister, Joan Dye.

Memorials may be made to Greenlawn Baptist Church, 6612 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com