Weylud Hudson Lanier (1888-1979)

Portrait from the 1913 Pandora Yearbook.

  The recent discovery of the University of Georgia's Pandora yearbook archive has fielded photographs of a number of unusually named men who would go on to prominence in Georgia political life, among these being the man highlighted today, Weylud Hudson Lanier. A standout figure in the history of Candler County, Georgia, Lanier was a practicing lawyer for over sixty years and during that time held a number of public offices, including service as Mayor of Metter, Georgia, and Judge of the city court of Metter. In 1937 he entered into the post of Solicitor General (District Attorney) for Georgia's Middle Circuit, holding that office for over two decades.

  One of ten children born to William M. and Adeline (Scarboro) Lanier, Weylud Hudson Lanier was born in Metter on August 21, 1888. Deciding on a career in law early in his life, Lanier enrolled at the University of Georgia and studied at the Lumpkin Law School. Earning his bachelor of laws degree in 1913, Lanier returned to Metter to establish his law practice in June of that year.

  Weylud H. Lanier married on May 10, 1914, to Bernice Bird (1895-1965), to whom he was wed until 1965. The couple later had six children born to their union, Addie Laurie (1915-1981), Weylud Hudson Jr. (1918-1922), Jewel Bird (1923-2004), William Albert (1927-2008), Dan Lambert (1929-1967) and Helen Hudson (born 1936). Following Bernice Lanier's death in 1965 Weylud Lanier would remarry to Patriel May Jones (1905-2002), who survived him upon his death in 1979.

   Lanier entered the political life of his hometown in 1917 when he was elected as the Mayor of Metter. Entering into office on January 1, 1918, Lanier served one two-year term and several months after leaving office began service as Judge of Metter's City Court. He would serve on the bench until January 1929 and afterward returned to his law practice.

Portrait courtesy of Find-a-Grave.

  In November 1936 Weylud Lanier was elected as Solicitor General for Georgia's Middle Circuit, defeating Republican candidate Marvin Gross by a vote of 5, 737 to 5,509. He would subsequently win reelection to that post on five more occasions, and in 1961 received the title of District Attorney Emeritus, a title he would continue to hold until his death eighteen years later.

  Until 1950 Lanier practiced law alone in Metter but later operated a firm with his son Dan Lambert, practicing until the latter died in 1967. Weylud Lanier celebrated his 90th birthday in August 1978 and died on April 22, 1979. He was survived by his wife Patriel and was interred at the Lake Cemetery in Metter, Georgia.