Phyllis Kathleen Lankford

Phyllis Lankford, 85, passed peacefully into the hands of our lord on Tuesday August 21, 2018 at 10:50 PM, surrounded by her family.

Phyllis was born in Buffalo, NY on July 30, 1933 to Peter and Lena Cappellino. She graduated from Brocton Middle High School in 1952 and furthered her education at Roberts Beauty Culture. After completing beauty school, she owned and operated her salon until she met her husband Paul Lankford in 1956. She traded the curlers for a frying pan and became Phyllis Lankford in 1957. Two children blessed their home, Kevin in 1958, and Kasandra in 1960. Paul Lankford worked for the Federal Food and Drug Administration. They were transferred to Linthicum, Maryland in 1961, where they lived until they moved to Ft Walton Beach, Florida in 2002. Phyllis had a passion for doing ceramics, but there was nothing better or more important to her then her family.

She is survived by her son Kevin Lankford; daughter Kasandra Bender; 3 grandchildren Angelena Silver, Anthony Lankford and Michael Lankford; 4 great-grandchildren Rebecca Silver, Aaron Silver, Hunter Lankford and Anthony Lankford Jr; niece Linda Poisson; 4 nieces in California; brother-in-law Lynwood Lankford; and 3 nieces in Arkansas. She is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years Paul Lankford, parents Peter & Lena Cappellino, brother and sister-in-law Charles & Jane Cappellino, sister and brother-in-law Lucy & Sam Castalone.

Funeral services will be held August 28, 2018 2:00 P.M. at St Mary’s Catholic Church 110 St Mary Ave SW, Ft Walton Beach, FL 32548. The Interment will follow at Beal Memorial Cemetery in the hope section.