Christy (Chris) Gray Lanier, 63, of Blythewood, passed away at home surrounded by family on Thursday, February 6, 2025. Born in Lexington, NC, on April 26, 1961, he was a son of Jackson Gray Lanier and Ferne Hartley Cole.

Chris was a graduate of Irmo High School class of 1979. As a teenager and even into his adult years, Chris thrived in competition and loved to be outdoors. He had a passion for snow skiing and water skiing. He participated in Motocross racing and loved to travel with his father as part of a friend's racing team. For many years, he worked alongside his father and brother at Sav-Mor Tire. He loved NASCAR and never missed a Sunday afternoon race. He admired the big #3 and Dale Earnhardt. He took advantage of any opportunity to fish on Lake Murray, and he enjoyed surf fishing in Edisto with his family.

In addition to his parents, Chris is survived by his wife, Connie "Beth" Hollis Lanier; daughter, A. Blythe Lanier (Bradley); his step-mother, Ramona Lanier; his uncle, Dane Lanier (Martha); his sister-in-law, Rhonda Lanier (Jarrod), his nephews, Furman Walker (Amber), and J. Heath Lanier; his in-laws, David "Buddy" W. Hollis (Kay); his sister-in-law, Jennie H. Price (Wayne) and nephew, David Wayne Price (Angela); his sister-in-law, Cindy H. Hyatt (Rayford); and a number of other step-brothers and step-sisters, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Shawn Lanier, his brother Jarrod H. Lanier, and his step-father Frank "Chris" C. Cole.

Chris' family would like to thank the medical teams and providers of Amedisys Hospice and Right at Home Care.

The funeral service for Mr. Lanier will be held at 11 o'clock, Wednesday, February 12th, at Fair Lawn United Methodist Church, 9203 Wilson Blvd., Columbia, with Pastor Jeremy Howell officiating. The family will receive friends and relatives from 5 until 7 o'clock, Tuesday evening at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia.

Memorials may be made to the Shawn Lanier Memorial Scholarship Fund, which can be mailed to Blythewood High School Education Foundation, 10901 Wilson Blvd., Blythewood, SC, 29016.