Bringing The World Home To You

© 2024 WUNC North Carolina Public Radio
120 Friday Center Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
919.445.9150 | 800.962.9862
91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount 91.1 Welcome 91.9 Fayetteville 90.5 Buxton 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines 89.9 Chadbourn
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
StoryCorps' mission is to provide people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of their lives. The StoryCorps Mobile Booth is in Durham April 17 - May 16. StoryCorps interviews are heard Fridays during Morning Edition.

Triangle Native Featured Nationally By StoryCorps, Dies

Edwin Lanier (left) with David Wright at StoryCorps in Durham, N.C.  2006
StoryCorps

StoryCorps fans might remember the stories told by Edwin "Eddie" Lanier, of battling alcoholism and finding peace. Lanier died on October 14th. He was 68. 

The first interview aired on NPR's Morning Edition in 2006. In that interview, Lanier talked with his friend David Wright. After almost drinking himself to death, Lanier had been sober for five years.

When he was a child, Lanier had been told by his father that alcoholism ran in the family.

Back then, Lanier was known as "Little Mayor" — his father was a two-term mayor of Chapel Hill, N.C. When he was 14, his father urged him to stay away from drinking."I'm an alcoholic just waiting for the first drink," his father told him. "And I refuse to take it." Lanier said he would keep it in mind. But soon after, some college kids offered him and a friend a drink. Lanier accepted, and drank for more than 40 years. It wasn't until after receiving his 28th treatment for alcoholism that Lanier got serious about quitting. His doctor told him he could be dead within two weeks. It was then that Lanier visited his parents' graves, and pledged not to drink again. >>Read the interview transcript.

Lanier would regularly stand near an exit ramp, holding a sign that said "Homeless. Anything Will Help. God Bless." David Wright would often stop and hand Lanier a $2 bill and a can of tuna fish.

One day, Wright invited Lanier to his home to take a shower, and get some clean clothes. The two became close friends, though Lanier chose to remain homeless.

Four years later, Lanier told Wright that he didn't think he could survive another winter in the woods. Wright persuaded his friend to move in with him.

StoryCorps made this animated video about the men's friendship. The video was published Dec. 18, 2013.

David Wright (left) and Eddie Lanier at StoryCorps in Durham, NC May 2014.
Credit StoryCorps
David Wright (left) and Eddie Lanier at StoryCorps in Durham, NC May 2014.

When StoryCops returned to Durham in May, 2014, David Wright and Eddie Lanier recorded what both men knew would be their final interview. Lanier had entered hospice, and the doctors told him that he'd be dead in a month.

“It's best to go when your time is right," Lanier said. "It’s been a trip. I’ve got some good people pulling for me."

Late in life Lanier found a new perspective.

"The only way I get through a day... is to say I’m going to make my life worth while by saying something of value," he told Wright.

EddieDavid_MIX.mp3
Eddie Lanier talked with David Wright at the StoryCorps Mobile Recording Booth in Durham, NC in May 2014.

Carol Jackson has been with WUNC since 2006. As Digital News Editor, she writes stories for wunc.org, and helps reporters and hosts make digital versions of their radio stories. She is also responsible for sharing stories on social media. Previously, Carol spent eight years with WUNC's nationally syndicated show The Story with Dick Gordon, serving as Managing Editor and Interim Senior Producer.
Related Stories
More Stories