As Buncie Hay Lanners exits the stage from her 25-year position as executive director of the Arts Association in Newton County, she leans into her memories and shares hopes for the future.
On a cold and sunny afternoon in February, people from Newton County and beyond poured into the Porter Performing Arts Center, not for a show but to pay tribute to a local legend.
Buncie Hay Lanners, the executive director of the Arts Association in Newton County, was retiring after dedicating 25 years to expanding and cementing a fine arts presence in the East Metro area. Students, present and past, showed up to honor their mentor in a variety of creative ways. A wall of photographs told a visual story of the association’s work under her direction, while a slideshow and video clips shared collective memories and individual greetings from those whose lives she has touched. Highlights of the event included Lanners’ gracious speech and a surprise presentation by the Oxford Youth Singers, who sang songs from “The Sound of Music” to honor her performance in the musical during high school.
It was a fitting farewell to the Georgia native, whose retirement became official on March 15. Lanners refuses to see it as an ending. Instead, it’s more like turning the page in a fine story, where one scene ends but the principal characters continue to thrive. Lanners transferred her role to Abigail Morgan Coggin, who has been with the Arts Association for 24 years and most recently served as the operations officer. The two women have deep roots in Newton County.
“Second only to my children and my husband, this has been the joy of my life.”
Buncie Hay Lanners
Lanners’ family tree extends back five generations in Covington and bears the names of many well-known locals, including the Dearing, Turner, Fowler and Hay families. Her father owned a farm on Dearing Road, and as a child, Lanners was active in 4H. She graduated from Newton High School, then followed in her father’s footsteps by attending Davidson College in North Carolina. She married Jaymes Lanners, who hails from New Orleans. The couple has two children: Sarah and Jay Jr. Both of their children served as valedictorians of their high school and took advantage of opportunities to work and serve abroad. Sarah married Paul Avinger, another Davidson College graduate, and they settled in North Carolina. Now, the elder Lanners are moving to be closer to the Avingers, their grandson, Morgan, and another grandchild on the way. Because of Lanners’ deep roots in Covington, relocating to another state at the age of 63 seems somewhat surreal. However, she is already quite familiar with North Carolina, and the desire to be closer to her grandchildren is strong.
When Lanners discusses her role as executive director, she speaks as someone who has received a precious gift. “Second only to my children and my husband, this has been the joy of my life,” she said. “It’s work that hasn’t felt like work.” Lanners has full confidence in the team’s ability to move forward with Coggin at the helm. “I have no doubt I am leaving the organization in a good position. Abigail is a logistical planner extraordinaire. We have a younger staff now,” she said, praising the 20- and 30-somethings for their energy and ongoing commitment to the vision. “They’re passionate, and many were students here themselves.” Additionally, the Association’s offerings will remain a unique opportunity for seekers of fine arts programs on this side of Atlanta.
“The ‘in’ is an important part of our name,” Lanners said. “It’s [Arts Association] ‘in’ Newton County, not ‘of’ Newton County. People come from Athens, Madison and other places, sometimes driving more than 30 miles to participate in our programs. Yes, there are classes in those communities but not complete programs like we have here.”
Strong teamwork remains a key factor in the ongoing success of the Arts Association in Newton County. Lanners and Coggin have deliberately made the transition between their roles slow. They started a few years ago, co-signing emails and hiring Ivy Bohn as director of development and community relations. Lanners has been the face of the Arts Association for so long that she and Bohn found it helpful to attend rehearsals, meetings and other events together to help people grow accustomed to the new staff.
Lanners gradually progressed from attending every rehearsal herself to allowing other team members to take over. She showered praise on many of her colleagues, especially James Johnson, president of the board of directors. They first met when Johnson, a high school football player, took ballet and performed alongside Lanners’ daughter, Sarah. “He was the one who lifted her,” Lanners said with a smile. Johnson expressed sadness over Lanners’ retirement while showing appreciation or what she has meant to the community.
“Buncie’s unmatched passion and empathy have made the Arts Association a beacon of progressive, community-minded leadership in Covington for many years, and her impact on broadening perspectives across this community simply cannot be overstated,” Johnson said. “In true Buncie fashion, she has ensured the Arts Association’s mission will endure long after her retirement by carefully placing the right people in the right roles, leaving behind both a thriving organization and a legacy that has made this community undeniably better.”
Lanners compared the association’s unity to that of a thriving sports team. “We each have a distinct role to play, and I have played just about every role imaginable, from coach to quarterback to waterboy,” she said. “I can see how the core pieces come together, and it’s been my greatest honor to lead our team.” Lanners maintains that another secret to success is that those who represent the Arts Association are just regular people, not the highbrow stereotype some may expect to encounter. “We pride ourselves on being friendly to parents. We are a family-first organization. We never let finances or family circumstances prevent a child from participating in our programs.” Lanners firmly believes that the impact of arts education on a child’s life cannot be overemphasized. “We’re not in this to create prima donnas,” she said. “We’re here to expose kids to the arts because art helps kids process real life.” Those efforts have not gone unnoticed.
“Growing up at Covington Regional Ballet has been more than just dance. It has been a second home for our family,” said Rebecca Baird, 14. She has studied with the Covington Regional Ballet since she was a preschooler. “Under Buncie’s steady, loving leadership, I didn’t just learn technique. I learned discipline, grace, resilience and the value of community. Buncie’s beautiful smile, embracing hug and encouraging words after every performance will forever be etched in my heart. She has been a pillar and, most of all, like a mom to us all. The friendships, the life lessons and the memories we’ve built through the studio walls have woven dance into the fabric of who we are. What she created isn’t just a ballet company. It’s a lasting impact that will continue to influence our family for years to come.” Baird’s mother, Michelle, could not praise Lanners’ leadership enough. “Buncie’s legacy has shaped generations of dancers,” she said, “and our family is forever changed because of it.”
Such testimonies fill Lanners’ heart with pride and joy.
“I will miss the kids the most,” she said. “I’ve seen generations go through our programs.” Lanners also fondly remembers the many shy students who avoided eye contact when they first started but became strong public speakers because of the welcoming environment and their positive experiences onstage. “It feels the greatest when a child says, ‘This is my family. This is where I can be myself. I can leave my worries at the door,’” she said. Lanners expressed deep gratitude for the donors and volunteers who have made it possible to reach students in such an impactful way. “Everything we do is about partnership,” she said. “We would not be who we are without the city’s involvement or without corporate and individual donors. Fundraising gets harder every year, but community involvement can make it easier.”
Lanners went on to outline how programs such as the Live at Legion concerts bring everyone together, regardless of age, race or income.
“We have three to five thousand people at these [Legion Field] concerts, and everyone is dancing together, enjoying great music,” she said. “The arts are the fabric and texture of this community. We never take art funding for granted.”
Lanners encourages lovers of the arts to visit www.newtoncountyarts.org and consider supporting the association’s work. While one-time gifts are always welcome, a commitment to a monthly gift—no matter how small—provides the ongoing resources needed to continue the legacy Lanners has so ardently built.
“You can hold great sadness at the same time you hold great joy,” she said. “Legacy is so often spoken about as being something in the past, but in my book, it’s about the future. Legacy is about love. It’s about kids, donors, the community, the arts association board, the schools, everyone coming together to make this strong presence in Newton County. Looking back, it needs to be in thanksgiving for all the people who made it happen and looking forward to seeing the organization going on. With that perspective, things look different about letting go.”
Click here to read more stories by Kari Apted.
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