Deceased Poet: Lana London (1973)
Cause of Death: Automobile Accident
Poet City: Montgomery
Poet State: AL
Survived By: Unmarried at the time of her death, so no husband or children surviving.
Correct spelling of first name is: LANA (only 1 "n"). Unfortunately, I cannot remember the exact year of her death, but I believe it was around 1974-75. Lana was the youngest sister to Jackie, Cindy & Ricky London, also all Lanier grads. Her mother taught school at Seth Johnson Elementary and was my 4th grade teacher! The London's lived on Thomas Avenue and I believe all of the London kids attended Floyd Jr. High as well. Lana was so creative & artistic with a bold personality. She was hilarious and just so much fun to be around. Lana had a vivid imagination and was always coming up with outlandish ideas and schemes. She had the most infectious laugh I have ever heard so there was NEVER a dull moment with Lana London! An untimely auto accident took Lana way too soon in the prime of her youth, not long after she graduated from Lanier.
M. Lanier Walker (Harris) (1972)
Lana actually died in late 1980 or 1981: I had just gotten married. Lana was living in a garage apartment across Howard St. from my parents. The garage apartment was on the Webber property on Perry St. By that time, she had graduated from Alabama with a degree in photography, and she was working at Caffco as their photographer. She also took lots of friend photos at group gatherings at the river, and Jasmine Hills. Lana loved life, her friends, job & family. We once went to the beach for the weekend and only spent $14. Oh my goodness...the stories.
Beth Ingram (Lamberth) (1973)
So great to have a place to remember someone.....Lana lived just up the hill from me and in about 4th grade we became fast friends. My little white-bread world become much more colorful visiting Lana's family and home! We spent hours and hours building forts, creating crazy recipes and singing songs. My most significant Lana story had an effect many years later on my attitude about moving to Alex City, my husband's hometown and where I have lived for 30+ years. I was invited to go to Lake Martin with Lana and her family. We stayed in a cabin that I think had a dirt floor (or it was the dirtiest house I'd ever been in!). It seemed to be in a secluded jungle-like slough. It rained all weekend. We went to a family reunion in Dadeville and a funeral in Alex City. After what I called the worst weekend of my life, my view of the area was tainted forever! Needless to say, when Tom said he wanted to move "home".....Alex City.....he had to drag me kicking and screaming!