Walker State Prison will see the return of former warden James Lanier on Tuesday, July 1.A ceremony will be held Wednesday, July 9, at 2 p.m. at the prison, where Lanier served as warden from 2000 to 2004.James Donald, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections, as well as other dignitaries, will attend the ceremony.Lanier, who was born in Baumholder, Germany, in 1955, is a graduate of Southeast Bullock High School in Brooklet, Ga., and attended Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. He served three years in the U. S. Army. Lanier began his career with the Georgia Department of Corrections in August 1978 as a correctional officer at Chatham Correctional Institution. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and later served as a training specialist.In November 1988 he took on the role of lieutenant at Coastal State Prison. He was promoted to the rank of captain at Metro State Prison in December 1989.Lanier served there until June 1992, when he moved to North Georgia to serve as deputy warden of security/care and treatment at Walker State Prison in Rock Spring.He became warden at the facility in August 2000 and served until April 2004.After leaving Walker State Prison, Lanier spent a brief time as the warden at Calhoun State Prison in Morgan, Ga. He then moved to Wayne State Prison in Odum, Ga.According to Walker State Prison secretary Linda Mann, Lanier is thrilled to be returning as the warden of the Walker State Prison. Lanier’s wife is the former Tina Callaway. The couple have two children and one grandchild.

(Walker County Messenger)