Buck Lanham

Eddie Gerald “Buck” Lanham, born May 23, 1948, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at the age of 78.

Although Eddie was his given name, nearly everyone knew him simply as “Buck,” a nickname he had carried since childhood. In fact, many who knew and loved him never realized that Buck wasn’t his real name at all.

Buck was defined by the life he built for his family, his deep love for the Lord, the way he loved his wife, and a remarkable singing voice that touched the hearts of countless people.

His children never questioned whether they were loved, never went hungry, and always had a safe, secure, and loving home. He was a kind and strong father, a quiet and friendly man, and someone who demonstrated what he believed through the way he lived. His typical quiet demeanor, however, was interrupted by a wonderful sense of humor and a big infectious smile.

Buck was a Southern Baptist, a member of Wimberly Hill Baptist Church, an ordained deacon, but above all, a man who loved the Lord. His Christian faith was not simply something he practiced on Sundays or a set of beliefs he professed; it was at the center of who he was. He held deeply to his faith without feeling the need to impose it upon anyone else. His faith was demonstrated by the way he lived his life, the way he treated others, cared for his family, and carried himself through both good times and difficult ones.

Perhaps nowhere was Buck’s love for God more evident than when he sang.

For many years, he directed the choir at Wimberly Hill Baptist Church, where his powerful singing voice became an unforgettable part of Sunday worship. His wife, Hope, would play the piano while Buck sang, and together their music reached far beyond their own congregation. They were invited countless times to churches throughout the area, sharing through music an authentic expression of their faith and their love for God.

Those who heard Buck sing knew there was something different about it. His voice was strong and powerful, with a considerable range that could seemingly shake the rafters of a little country church. There was almost a disappointment in the congregation on the rare Sunday that he didn’t sing. For many, hearing Buck sing was the highlight of the service.

But perhaps the people who knew that voice best were his children, Joy and Brian.

Many Sunday mornings of their childhood began with the sound of their mother at the piano and their father’s voice filling the house as the two practiced the song they would sing at church later that day. It became part of the soundtrack of their childhood—a memory of home, family, faith, and music that will remain with them always.

People often said that only someone who truly believed the words he was singing could sing them the way Buck did. Those who knew him understood how true that was. He didn’t simply sing about his faith. He sang from a genuine love for the Lord and from a heart that believed every word.

And at the center of Buck’s earthly life was Hope.

Buck and Hope Tanner Lanham were married on March 26, 1966, beginning a marriage that spanned more than sixty years. She was his rock, his partner, his best friend, and his soulmate. Their marriage was an example to their children and grandchildren of what love, respect, devotion, and commitment could look like. His children cannot remember ever hearing their father raise his voice to their mother. The love and respect he showed Hope spoke louder than any words could describe.

That was simply who Buck was. He did not need to announce his values. He lived them. He did not need to tell others how they should believe. He showed what his own faith meant through the life he lived. And he did not need to explain how much he loved his family. They knew.

Buck was preceded in death by his father, Eddie Franklin Lanham; his mother, Margaret “Mint” Lanham; and his brothers, Norman Lanham, Benny Lanham, Ray Lanham, and David Lanham, who died in infancy.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Hope Tanner Lanham; his brother, Sam Lanham and his wife Mona, his daughter, Joy Cornwell and her husband, Jeff; his son, Brian Lanham and his wife, Jessica; his grandsons, Justin Cornwell and his wife, Neta, Jared Cornwell and his wife, Olivia, Jacob Cornwell and his wife, Katelyn, and Beau Lanham; and his granddaughter, Makenna Lanham.

Buck also leaves behind eight great-grandchildren: Zachary Cornwell, Ryan Cornwell, Brady Cornwell, Rhett Cornwell, McKenzie Cornwell, Mason Cornwell, Bryson Cornwell and Renley Cornwell.To his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was lovingly known simply as “Pappy,” a name that became every bit as much a part of him within his family as “Buck” was to everyone else. He is survived also by three sister in laws; Linda Lanham, Linda Lanham Weeks, and Gail Arp. Multiple nieces and nephews also survive.

His family was his greatest earthly legacy, but his influence extends far beyond the names listed here. It lives in the people who heard him sing, the congregations who worshiped alongside him, the people who witnessed his faith, and especially in the generations of his family who learned from his example.

Funeral services to honor a life well lived will be held Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Wimberly Hill Baptist Church, at 3:00 PM, with Reverend Adam Elrod, and Reverend Danny Tucker officiating. A eulogy will be given by Melanie Hughes. Interment will follow in Polk Memory Gardens.

Buck's family will receive friends on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Wimberly Hill Baptist Church, beginning at 1:30 PM until the service begins.

The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Beau Lanham, Justin Cornwell, Jared Cornwell, Jacob Cornwell, Zachary Cornwell, and Ryan Cornwell. Serving as an honorary pallbearer will be Miss Makenna Lanham.

Of all the songs Buck sang over the years, one of the most beloved was “Rejoice.” Its message of joy and the promise of Heaven was one he sang with unmistakable conviction. Those fortunate enough to have heard him knew he believed every word.

"Rejoice! Heaven is now his to claim."

The Smith & Miller Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Eddie Gerald "Buck" Lanham.