Richard D. VanLandingham
March 5, 1951 – June 20, 2024
Richard D. VanLandingham, 73, of Cairo, GA, passed away at Magnolia Place, Cairo, GA, on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
Mr. VanLandingham was born on March 5, 1951, in Cairo, GA, to the late Robert Leon VanLandingham and the late Mary Louise Nelson VanLandingham. On December 9, 1972, he married Teresa Gainey VanLandingham.
Mr. VanLandingham was the Chief Executive Officer at Monrovia Nursery and a founding and faithful member of the Church of Grady County. He helped found and served on the Grady County Joint Development Authority and the Grady County Sports Hall of Fame where he was the President from 2009 until 2016 and inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
He served as a Councilman for the City of Cairo from 1983-1990 and as Mayor from 2006 – 2013. Mr. VanLandingham served as President of the Grady County Chamber of Commerce in 1992 and was chosen as Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce “Man of the Year” in 2013. He, along with his wife Teresa, received the Community Service Award for Outstanding Achievement in Service to Grady County from the Chamber of Commerce in 2007. He was also a generous supporter of Grady County Schools, the Cairo High School Band and the Syrupmaker athletic program.
Mr. VanLandingham served the horticulture industry throughout his professional career, including as Vice President of Wight Nurseries from 1982 – 1990 and President of Wight Nurseries from 1990 – 2000, Vice President of Monrovia Nursery from 2001 – 2002, and as President and CEO of Monrovia from 2003-2004. He received the NMPro Nursery Grower of the Year Award in 2004 and the Lifetime Achievement Award and Honorary Member of the Southern Nursery Association in 2005, along with many other distinguished industry awards.
Survivors include his wife, Teresa Gainey VanLandingham of Cairo, GA; son, R. Christopher VanLandingham (Elena) of Tallahassee, FL; daughter, Mary Beth VanLandingham Sharp (Kevin) of Acworth, GA; grandchildren, Dixon VanLandingham, Stafford VanLandingham and Maxwell VanLandingham, all of Tallahassee, FL, Colton Sharp and Camden Sharp, both of Acworth, GA; brothers, Thomas N. VanLandingham (Lanell) of Cairo, GA and John L .VanLandingham (Cindy) of Nashville, GA; mother-in-law, Elizabeth D. Gainey of Cairo, GA; sister-in-law Lynn Butler Gainey of Deltona, FL; as well as many nieces, nephews and other extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert S. VanLandingham; sister-in-law, Phyllis VanLandingham; father-in-law, Thomas M. Gainey, Sr.; and brothers-in-law, Thomas M. Gainey, Jr. and Tracy Gainey.
Memorials may be made in Mr. VanLandingham’s memory to: The Church of Grady County, 1400 South Broad Street, Cairo, GA 39828 or to the Community Foundation of South Georgia for the benefit of the Richard and Teresa VanLandingham Maxi Grant Fund or the Cairo High School Band Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2654 Thomasville, GA, 31799.
A visitation for family and friends will be held later in the summer and details will be shared once finalized.
