Educator Lucy Laney’s descendants work to keep her legacy alive in Macon

The name Lucy Craft Laney is associated with education in Middle Georgia, but for her family, who still live in Macon, there is more to her story that they want people to know.

Two of Laney’s great, great, great nephews are carrying on the Laney family legacy through education and creating opportunities to support students.’

Courtesy: Shavonne Laney
The Laney family and a member of the Lucy Laney Alumni Association at a Hall of Fame induction ceremony in March 2016 in Augusta, GA.

Lucy Laney, a native of Macon, founded the first school for African American kids in Augusta, Georgia.

A documentary titled “Love Them First,” about an underperforming school named after Lucy Laney in Minnesota that was turned around, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Professional Learning Center (SOAR Academy) on Riverside Drive. The screening is open to the public.

Walking into Hosea Laney’s classroom at Weaver Middle School where he teaches math, there is a picture of his great, great, great aunt displayed on the smart board. He was teaching his students about her as part of Black History Month.

Hosea appears to be very comfortable in the classroom, despite this not being his first career choice. He said not studying education is the only disagreement he ever had with his father, Louis Laney Jr.

Read the full story here.