Filled with overflowing kindness and a welcoming spirit, Lainey Anderson made an effort to spread love wherever she went. During her time at Auburn, she was dedicated to including everyone at the table, while being a constant friend in her relationships. Anderson graduated from Auburn this past May with a degree in professional flight from the School of Aviation with a minor in finance. She was also a certified flight instructor at Sander’s Aviation in Jasper, Alabama.
Known to be a gentle, calming person in her friends’ lives, Anderson left a lasting impact on her Alpha Chi Omega sorority sister and roommate, Jadie Whisenhunt, who also graduated this past spring with a nursing degree.
“We met through a mutual friend and lived in the same dorm,” Whisenhunt said. “And my first impression of her, she was just a very soft-spoken, gentle, calm person, and she just immediately made you feel welcomed in. You felt comfortable around her.”
Anderson and Whisenhunt became good friends during their time in the dorm together. Anderson was someone who grounded her and was constantly there for her. From going on walks or going out to eat, she was down to doing anything.
Anderson’s friends would joke that her love language was cooking. She loved to be in the kitchen, cooking meals and baking treats, such as s’mores cookies, for her group of friends. Even when she and her friends would go to the lake, Anderson and her dad would cook more than enough food for the whole group.
“She’d invite everyone over to the house, and she would cook this big meal. And we would all just hang out,” Whisenhunt said. “We would all just go in the kitchen. Our group, we’d hang out, listening to music, and she’d be cooking. We’d just be having a good time.”
Anderson also loved to dance, even if she was the only one on the dance floor. Their friend group would have dance parties, and she would sometimes be the only one dancing, which never stopped her. Her fun and joyful spirit could brighten the room.
“She’s kind [of] like the glue of our friend group,” Whisenhunt said. “She was the one that, like, she was close with most everybody, and she was always at everything.”
One quality of Anderson that stuck with Whisenhunt was her calming presence. She never seemed anxious and always looked on the bright side. Whenever Whisenhunt felt upset about something, she would go to Anderson, knowing that she could count on her friend to calm her down.
Whisenhunt also recalled that she never felt judged around Anderson. Regardless of the situation, Anderson would be there for her friends through thick and thin.
“She reminds me of the color blue,” Whisenhunt said. “Like the ocean, and like soothing and calm. She always calmed me down, just with her saying, 'It’s ok. Like, it’s going to work out.'"
Although she was active in her sorority, most of Anderson's time was taken up by the aviation program at Auburn University.
One of her first loves, flying had been a passion for Anderson from the very beginning. She had been flying with her dad since she was little and continued to do so throughout her life. They would frequently fly together as a family. Even her flight instructors could tell that she had been raised in a cockpit and were very impressed with her exceptional skills.
Anderson was dedicated to her work. Whisenhunt remembered when they would have date parties in their sorority and other events, she would stay back and study. She would even wake up early to study when they went on trips, such as spring break.
Anderson was incredibly excited to begin working in the airline industry. She started her job as a certified flight instructor at Sanders Aviation in Jasper this year. There, she helped train students to develop their flying skills.
“She was hard working, and she just truly loved it,” Whisenhunt said about Anderson's passion for aviation. "It was kind of like her escape, and her dad shared that love of flying together."
Anderson’s love for her friends and flight carried her through her life, leaving a strong impact on anyone who came into contact with her. Her hard work and dedication were inspiring to her friends and teachers, as well as her ability to remain calm and optimistic. Everyone who met her was welcomed with open arms without judgment. She was kind, funny and a constant in people's lives.
Passionate about everything in her life, Anderson will be remembered as a loving, talented and exceptional friend to all.
“I always called her an angel,” Whisenhunt said. “You would be with her and you would be feeling refreshed . . . because she was just awesome in every way.”
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Katelyn Smith, sophomore majoring in journalism, is from Birmingham, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
