MOULTRIE, Ga. — Friends remembered former Colquitt County Sheriff Jack Lanier as a good guy, a skilled farmer and a dedicated school board member who put students first. Lanier, who served as the county’s top lawman from 1997-2000, died on Saturday and funeral services were held on Monday. He was 80.

Retired Colquitt County Schools Superintendent Bill Yearta, who was vocational director during Lanier’s time on the Colquitt County School Board, said that Lanier was instrumental in bettering the system.

“He was always sensitive to the needs of the schools, “Yearta said. “I have never seen a  better-dedicated board member than Jack Lanier.

“Jack was a good farmer, (so) he really understood the need of some of the vocational programs.”

Although Lanier retired before Yearta assumed the role of superintendent, he said that he considered him a friend and kept up with him after Lanier left the board.

“I can’t say enough about Jack Lanier,” Yearta said. “He was a great man, a great board member, and I am very sad he will not be with us any longer.

“I was still appreciative of him for what he did for the school system and more especially for the vocational program of the school system, which he understood very well.”

Lanier won election as sheriff in 1996 and served one term after losing the 2000 contest to Al  Whittington, who now serves on the Colquitt County Board of Commissioners.

“He was very supportive of a lot of things that we got done that we probably could not have got done otherwise,” Yearta said of his influence as a school board member. “I (was) in the school system for years, and I don’t know of a board member who was better than Jack. There may have been some who were as good, but none better.”

As sheriff, Lanier was liked by employees.

“He was a good guy,” said Karen Morey, who serves as administrative assistant for several sheriffs. “He was good to work for, a nice person.”