Barbara J. Lanning

Barbara Jean Lanning, 77, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 15, 2025, surrounded by family at the Pisgah Manor Health Care Center in Candler, NC.

A native and lifelong resident of Buncombe County, she was born on April 7, 1947, to the late Arvel D. Hudgins and Ina L. Hudgins.

With hands that nurtured both earth and art, Barbara cultivated beauty in all forms-through her gardening, her baking, her craftsmanship, and most of all, through the love she poured into her family. She worked as a purchasing agent for several years, traveling often before taking a leap of faith and opening a business with her husband and love of her life, Charles E. Lanning. Together they built more than just a business, they built a life full of love, hard work, and shared dreams.

Barbara was more than a creator-she was a force. Life tested her, yet she met every challenge with unwavering strength and faith. Whether shaping clay into something lasting, coaxing life from soil, or filling a home with the comforting scent of something warm from the oven, her presence was felt in the most tangible, cherished ways. She found joy in the roar of NASCAR engines, the crack of a bat from her beloved Atlanta Braves, and the simple satisfaction of working with her hands, turning raw materials into something meaningful.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Edward Lanning; and siblings: Betty L. Roberts, Jack A. Hudgins, James W. Hudgins, and Jerry L. Hudgins.

Left to cherish her memory are her loving daughter, Donna Lanning Lipe and her husband Darin; son-in-law, Skip Wyatt; grandchildren: Noah Lynn Wyatt, and Hannah Grace Wyatt; and several beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM on Friday, February 21, 2025, in the Chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home with Pastor Allen Rash officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hills Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 1 till 1:45 PM at the funeral home.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Four Seasons Hospice for their exceptional care and support during Barbara’s final days.

In lieu of flowers donations maybe made in her memory to Four Seasons Hospice Foundation, 211 N Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792 or online at fourseasonsfdn.org, to support their continued compassionate work.

Barbara’s life was not measured in years alone but in the love she gave, the things she created, and the lives she touched. Her spirit lives on in every bloom in the garden, every handmade creation, and every heart she warmed.

Rest in peace, Barbara. Your legacy is written in love.

Anders- Rice Funeral Home and Cremation Center is honored to serve the Lanning Family.