Sarah Lanning

Sarah Ellen Payne Lanning, age 98, of Epworth, passed away peacefully at her home August 4, 2021.

She was born June 19, 1923, in Englewood, Tennessee, to the late Clifford W. and Hazel Thomas Payne.

Mrs. Lanning was a wonderful, loving, Christian mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her father, Clifford Payne; her mother, Hazel Thomas Payne; her husband of 57 years, Gene Lanning; her brother and his wife, Weldon L. Payne and Mercedes Payne; and sons-in-law, Donnie Arp and Robert Guthrie.

She is survived by her daughters, Sarah Arp and Becky Guthrie; grandchildren, Greg (Robin) Arp, Kevin (Karen) Arp and Michelle (Chris) Gibbs; 10 great-grandchildren, Kristyn, Matthew, Nick, Brian and Evan Arp, Caroline, Ty, Sarah Kate and Landry Gibbs, and Arricka Moss; great-great-grandchild, Ethan Wooten; and niece, Denise Payne.

Mrs. Lanning retired from Cities Service Company, where she worked for many years as a lab technician. In her spare time, she loved to travel and vacation.

She was a member of First Baptist Church McCaysville/Copperhill, where she taught Sunday School, worked with Georgia’s and Women’s Missionary Union, and was a member of the Joy Sunday School Class.

Mrs. Lanning was a charter member with the volunteers at the Copper Basin Medical Center and was still active as a Pink Lady volunteer with Fannin Regional Hospital.

The family would like to give special thanks to Pruitt Hospice Care and especially to Jerrod Curtis and Makenzie McClure.

A memorial service at the First Baptist Church McCaysville/Copperhill will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Fannin Regional Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Fund c/o Susan Kiker 2855 Old Highway 5, Blue Ridge, Georgia, 30513 or to Women on Missions at Epworth First Baptist Church P.O. Box 187, Epworth, Georgia, 30541.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Finch-Cochran Funeral Home of McCaysville.

To send condolences to the family and sign the guest register visit www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.