Lanor Smith

Obituary For Lanor Smith

Lanor Smith, 65, passed on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 in Mooresville, NC.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. EST on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at St. John AME Church, Ft. Mitchell, AL with Rev. Gerard Blanding, Sr., officiating. Burial to follow in the church cemetery.

Lanor Smith, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2025, in Mooresville, North Carolina, surrounded by the love of his family. Born on February 6, 1960, to Preston Smith Sr. and Eddie Lee Lewis Smith, Lanor's life was a testament to devotion, excellence, and quiet strength.

A proud graduate of Mt. Olive High School, Lanor was the Salutatorian of the Class of 1978. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree from Tuskegee University in 1982, where he was a cherished member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Gamma Epsilon – Lighthouse Chapter. His early career began with the Phenix City Police Department, but his passion for technology led him to Northern Virginia in 1984, where he joined the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae).

Lanor's professional journey flourished in telecommunications, with leadership roles at SBS, Cable and Wireless, and Sprint. Ultimately, he answered a higher calling to serve his country, becoming the Senior Program Manager of Telecommunications for the Central Intelligence Agency—a position he held with distinction for 28 years until his retirement in 2022.

On September 5, 1987, Lanor married the love of his life, Diane Wynn Smith. Together they built a home filled with laughter, faith, and enduring love. He was a proud and devoted father to Jordon Danielle Smith and Preston Lanor Smith, Mooresville, NC.

Lanor is survived by his siblings, Bettye J. Lewis Maye of McCalla, Alabama, and Preston Smith Jr. (Peggy) of Greenville, South Carolina; his aunts, Mattie Lewis Ford (Carey Ford) and Dorothy Jones; his uncle, Colonel James Henry Harvey III; and his in-law family: Karen Eileen Jackson (Eupton), Melvin Earl Wynn (Jayne), and Brian Charles Wynn (Katie). He also leaves behind a beautiful multitude of cousins, nieces, nephews, and cherished friends.

Lanor's passions were as vibrant as his spirit—he found joy in college football, classic cars, gardening, volunteering and the timeless music of Luther Vandross. His presence was steady, his humor gentle, and his love deep. He was the kind of man whose quiet wisdom and generous heart left a lasting imprint on everyone he met.

Though Lanor has departed this earthly life, the hole he leaves in our hearts is filled with gratitude for the time we shared, the lessons he taught, and the love he gave so freely. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the family he so dearly loved.

One of his favorite scriptures:

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.