Mr. Samuel Lane Sayles II, 66

Mr. Samuel Lane Sayles II died April 29 in Albany.
He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, Dec. 17, 1953, to Samuel Lane Sayles and Marilyn Collins Sayles. He was the grandson of C.B. (Doc) Collins and Myrtis Wilson Collins.
“Lane” attended Southwest High School in Kansas City where he was a nationally ranked gymnast and diver. Upon graduating he enrolled at Florida State University where he graduated Magna Cum Laud with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Fine Arts specializing in dance. Following graduation he moved to New York City joining the Jose Limon Dance Company. Throughout his years in New York he danced with various companies including, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Lar Lubavich Dance Company and the White Oak Dance Project with Mikhail Baryshnikov. He performed throughout the U.S., Canada, Central America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Hong Kong, and Japan. He received a grant from the United States Information Agency to teach and perform in Argentina. His choreography was presented at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., at the National College of Dance Festival. His works were also presented in Canada and universities throughout the U.S.
After retiring from dance he moved to San Francisco to attend The San Francisco School of Art earning a degree in Computer Design. To pursue a career in his new field he moved to San Antonia, Texas.
In 1996 he moved to Hazlehurst to become the primary caregiver for Marilyn Sayles. While in Hazlehurst he began designing stained glass and various other types of glass art works. He remained in Hazlehurst until his death.
All who knew and loved Lane will miss his kindness, creativity, intelligence and sense of humor.
A memorial will be held at a later date in New York City. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the National Endowment of the Arts or donate a tree in Lane’s memory through https://shop.alivingtribute.org/