Max Lanning

Mr. Max Gene Lanning, 88, of Anderson St. Denton, NC passed away on Monday, January 1, 2018 at Hinkle Hospice House. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Jan.9 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at the Southern Theater and Event Center in Denton. The memorial service will follow at 2:00 pm conducted by Rev. Terri Lanning-Cook. Mr. Lanning was born August 19, 1929 in Davidson County the son of the late Arthur Webster Lanning and Bessie Peacock Lanning. At age 9 Max learned to play the upright bass and won his first award at the Fiddler’s Convention and later he learned to play the fiddle. He went on to win many awards at the Fiddler’s Convention over the years. He loved to play Bluegrass and Gospel Music and in the 1950’s his music was on the radio. Max played at the Rand Ole Opry in Liberty for over 10 years and he was the last living original member of the group Wagon Wheel which he was a member for over 25 years. Over the past several years Max would gather along with friends on Tuesday afternoons to play music at the Southern Theater and Event Center in Denton. In addition to his love for music Max began selling insurance in 1951 and decided to open his own agency in 1963, Lanning Insurance Agency which is still in operation today. He was an independent agent selling for different insurance companies. He was preceded in death by brother, Jack Webster Lanning; and sisters, Lucy Lanning Lane and Lucille Lanning Tate. He is survived by wife, Geraldine Tarlton Lanning; daughters, Rev. Terri Lanning-Cook and husband Randy of Denton and Cherri Tipton and husband Buddy of Richfield; 1 grandson, Jeremy Lanning Amburn; 3 great-grandchildren, Kiara Lanning Amburn, Scarlett Liana Amburn, and Mathias Lanning Amburn. In lieu of flowers and food the family request that memorials be made to Hospice of Davidson County 200 Hospice Way Lexington, NC 27292 in memory of Max. Online condolences may be made at www.briggsfuneralhome.com