Leila Palmer

Leila Ann "Lanny" Palmer COLUMBIA - Leila Ann "Lanny" Palmer quietly transitioned to her heavenly home on the evening of June 25, 2017 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born in Columbia, South Carolina on August 30, 1931 and was the daughter of the late Leila Margaret Dickson Sullivan and Richard Franklin Sullivan of Manning, South Carolina. She was known by her childhood nickname, "Lanny", that came from a friend who could not pronounce her given name of "Leila", and it followed her through life. Lanny's musical talent was evident early on, and under the tutelage of her mother she began her piano training at the age of 4. She attended Dreher High School in Columbia, during which time she studied piano with Miss Nell Mellechamp, and graduated from Manning High School in 1949. Lanny was an accomplished singer and pianist by the time she graduated from high school and was offered a scholarship to Mitchell Junior College in Statesville North Carolina. She later finished her baccalaureate degree at Columbia College where she studied piano with Margaret Richards and voice with Carolyn Parker. She attended Indiana University and received a Master's Degree and began her doctoral work in Vocal Performance under the guidance of Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Martha Lipton. She received additional training in art song and operatic performance from the world famous pedagogue John Wustman, the accompanist of Luciano Pavarotti among many other internationally acclaimed singers. She was a committed artist and life-long learner who became a respected and well-known pedagogue in her own right. In 1963 Lanny began teaching voice at Columbia College. She taught there for over forty years and held the Groh-Darr Chair in Music, retiring as Professor of Music Emeritus. She had an innate understanding of her students' needs, and she provided them everything she could to ensure a quality vocal education. Throughout many years Lanny reveled in her work as a member of both the National Association of Teachers of Singing and of the South Carolina Music Teachers' Association. But South Carolinians probably best remember her for her performances on stage, radio and television of opera (La Traviata, Cosi Fan Tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro, Carmen, Die Fledermaus, La Boheme, Sour Angelica, Madame Butterfly, Gianni Schicchi ), oratorio (Requiems of Mozart, Verdi, Faure, Brahms, Beethoven Symphony No.9, Elijah, Carmina Burana), musical theatre (South Pacific, Brigadoon, A Little Night Music, I Do! I Do! The King and I, Sweeney Todd), countless art song recitals and musical theatre concerts. Her home church choir family at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, led by Dr. Donald Gray, was a source of love, strength, and inspiration. Prior to that she was soloist at First Presbyterian Church for 37 years under the direction Dr. Fred Parker and Arpad Daraz. Mrs. Palmer is predeceased by her beloved husband of fifty years, Sidney J. Palmer. She is survived by her devoted daughters, Ann Palmer Benson and Mary Benson Keenan; her sons-in-law, Billy Keenan and David Bankston; grandsons, Joe Keenan and Palmer Keenan, their spouses Julie Keenan and Celia Keenan; and her great-grandchildren, Liam Keenan and Frances Sullivan Keenan. The service for Mrs. Palmer will be held at 4 o'clock, Thursday, June 29th at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road, Columbia. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 3 o'clock in the church parlor. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. The family would like to thank Cessandra Carter, Kim Anderson, and the staff of the skilled care facility at Laurel Crest Retirement Community. Donations may be sent to the Lanny and Sidney Palmer One-Act Opera Series at USC, 1813 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208 or the Lanny and Sidney Palmer Cultural Endowment Fund at the South Caroliniana Library, 1600 Hampton Street, Suite 736, Columbia, SC 29208.