Leo Lafel Lankford

Leo LaFel Lankford, age 59, of Homerville, Georgia, passed away at his home Wednesday, November 16, 2022. Leo was born in Lakeland, Georgia, March 1, 1963 to the late Gladys Cleo Lee Lankford and Roy Hamilton Lankford. Leo was a graduate of Valdosta Technical College, ABAC Police Academy, and National Guard Medical Core. Leo served as Lakeland Chief of Police, and at the time was the youngest Police Chief in the State of Georgia. He was a Medic in the U.S. National Guard; an undercover agent with Georgia Bureau of Intelligence, Narcotics Division. He was also a deputy with Clinch County Sheriff Department, Lowndes County Sheriff Department and was the Chief of Police for the City of Homerville, Georgia, and was also the owner of Lankford Metal Works. Leo was a member of the Homerville United Methodist Church, Homerville, Georgia, Lakeland Lodge #434 and Homerville Cassia Lodge #224. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by one sister, Margo L. Hendley, and one brother, Stanley A. Lankford.
Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Mary Gruver Lankford, his son, Charles Jacob “Jake” Lankford and wife Sara K. of St. Augustine, Florida, his grandchildren, McKenzie Leigh, and Jackson Chase; brother, Lamar Lankford and wife Betty, nephew, Roy Lankford and wife Amanda, great niece, Auden, sister-in-law Rose Lankford, nephew Stan Lankford and wife Caroline, great niece, Olivia and Trevor Ellis, great-great niece, Meredith, great nephews, Thomas and Jack Lankford, niece, Emily Graham and husband Dr. Myron, great niece, Harper and great nephew, Walker.
He is also survived by his father-in-law, Charles L. Gruver, Jr., brother-in-law Charles L. Gruver, III and wife Michelle, nephew, Charles L. Gruver IV and his wife Heather, great-niece Lucy, nephew, Matthew A. Gruver all of Tifton, GA, niece, Morgan Gruver and wife Abi of Savannah, GA, sister-in-law, Elizabeth G. Butler and husband Carroll, niece Rebecca Butler, great-niece, Skylar Robbins, all of Arlington, TX.
Funeral services will be held at 2 pm, Sunday November 20, 2022 at the Homerville United Methodist Church with Pastor Joseph Carter officiating. Interment will follow in Arabia Cemetery, Clinch County, Georgia. The family will be receiving friends on Saturday, November 19 from 6-8 pm, at Music Funeral Services, Lakeland. Kind words and expressions of sympathy can be left for the family at www.musicfuneralservices.com . The Lankford family is being cared for by the professional staff of Music Funeral Services,