Obit – Mr. Neal Lankford
A well-known, long-time South Carthage businessman. Mr. Neal Lankford, transitioned from this earthly life to his heavenly home at the age of 88 at 11:33 a.m. Sunday morning December 14, 2025 with his family at his bedside. He was admitted to the Highpoint Health – Riverview Medical Center on December 7th.
His pastors, Bro. Jim Wilburn and Bro. Tim Frank, officiated at the 11 a.m. Thursday morning December 18th funeral services from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home. Burial was in the Lankford family plot in the Beasley-Brooks section at the Dixon Springs Cemetery.
Military Chapel services were conducted by American Legion Post # 57 of Carthage.
The youngest of six children, he was born Alton Neal Lankford in the Riddleton Community on October 31, 1937 and was one of five sons and a daughter of the late William Henry (Willie) Lankford who died June 1, 1970 at the age of 78 and Nannie O’Neal Hackett Lankford who died July 26, 1992 at the age of 96.
The five siblings preceding him in death were the sister, Eunice Preble Lankford Tisdale who died at the age of 75 on January 29, 2000 and the four brothers, Uyless C. Lankford who died at the age of 67 on February 27, 1984, William Allen Lankford who died at the age of 41 on May 9, 1971, Henry Alvis Lankford who died at the age of 54 on April 15, 1989, Juless “Shorty” Lankford who died at the age of 75 on December 24,1994.
The mother of Mr. Lankford’s four sons, Helen Earline Petty Lankford died December 7, 2003 at the age of 65 and they lost a son, Davie Neal Lankford who died in an automobile accident at Dixon Springs Highway and Wilburn Hollow Road on November 23, 1975 at the age of 18.
Another son, William Lyn (Billy) Lankford, who served as the Chief Deputy of Smith County at the time of his death, died of a heart attack at the age of 51 on April 6, 2010.
A great-granddaughter, Haley Lyn Chasse died at the age of 5 on August 2, 2010.
Mr. Lankford was saved at the age of 14 and had been a member of the First Baptist Church Carthage.
At the Brush Creek Baptist Church on July 20, 2007, he was united in marriage to Brush Creek Community native, the former Brenda Fay Gass. The ceremony was performed by then church pastor, Bro. Rob Amason.
Mr. Lankford’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Robbie Gass preceded him in death on April 1, 2019 at the age of 93.
Mr. Lankford was a recipient of his General Education Degree and on December 31, 1961 after graduating from the Nashville Barber College in Nashville, he was licensed by the State of Tennessee as a Master Barber. He owned and operated the Southside Barber Shop in South Carthage for many years before retiring in April of 2022 at the age of 84 with a career spanning sixty-one years.
He was a veteran of the United States Army having served in peacetime between World War II and the Korean War.
Surviving in addition to his wife Brenda of over eighteen years are his two sons, Smith County Sheriff’s deputy Jimmy Lankford and wife Debbie Graham Lankford of Hartsville, former Smith County Sheriff Ronnie Lankford and wife Christy Fields Lankford of Gordonsville; six grandchildren, Elissa Proctor and Husband Jesse, Tina Chasse and husband Ryan, all of Hartsville, Seth Lankford and wife Erin of Millersville, Jacob Lankford and wife Sarah of Carthage, Davie Lankford and wife Tyra of Baltimore, Maryland, Carrie Martin and husband Jake of Tampa, Florida; seven great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Kathy Givens Lankford of Pleasant Shade, sister-in-law, Becky Gass Smiley and husband David of Nashville.
The Lankford family requests memorials to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
