VALLEY — Lafayette F. Lanier, Jr., of Valley, known to friends as “L.F.,” passed away at his residence on Aug. 2, 2018, at the age of 83.

L.F. graduated from Valley High School in 1953 and Auburn University in 1958 with a bachelor’s in physical education.

A four-year letterman on Auburn’s baseball team, he was named All-SEC in 1958. A school leader in hits, runs, batting average, and at bats, his biggest honor was being chosen team captain in 1958 — a year Auburn won the SEC championship.

Following the championship game, L.F. signed a professional baseball contract with the Cleveland Indians and played on the organization’s farm clubs. When military service and an injury hindered his baseball career, L.F. returned home to Valley. He was employed by WestPoint Pepperell until the company’s hostile takeover in 1989; he retired from the Russell Corporation.

He is survived by his daughter, Tara Lanier (Jason) Carter of Auburn, Ala., his sister Charlotte Lanier (John) Carmichael of Lanett, Ala., two nephews and a niece, all whom he loved dearly. Born in Chambers County on October 12, 1934, L.F. was the son of Lafayette F. Lanier, Sr., and Louise Blackburn Lanier.

Over the years, L.F. liked to fish, play golf, and attend get-togethers with his high school classmates and former Auburn teammates. He was a member of Fairfax United Methodist Church.

A chapel service will be held Sunday, August 5th at 4 p.m. EDT at Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home in Valley. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 2 p.m. EDT until the service hour.

His family is grateful to his caregivers for their compassion and call to service, particularly Angie Williams and Tameka Harris. For memorial contributions, the family has designated Chattahoochee Hospice, 6 Medical Park North, Valley, Ala., 36854.

Please visit his Memorial Tribute page at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to leave a kind word for his family, share a memory of Mr. Lanier, or to light a Remembrance Candle in his memory.

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley is directing.