Meet Shane Lazenby! Shane is married to Jennifer and the couple has four children. He is a a local personal injury attorney in Hall County.
We want to thank Shane for recently spending time with us and telling us more about his life and love of Hall County.

Question: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Answer: “My wife, Jennifer (Trapnell) and I have been married for 20 years this September. We have four children: Jackson (18), Allie (15), Sawyer (10) and Lillianna (9).”

Q: Please tell us about your current career. What do you love most about what you do?
A: “I am a personal injury attorney in my seventh year of having my own firm. The biggest blessing of my career is the ability to directly and meaningfully help those in need. My clients’ lives have been the subject of great tragedy when we meet. I do all I can to give them some peace and restoration of a feeling of normalcy. The resulting relief they get with my help and representation makes me feel like I’ve made a lasting impact.”

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
A: “Probably Luna’s, and if it had not closed, I would have said Midland Station Coffee Company. With it’s closure, I’ll have to fall back to Waffle House.”

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
A: “I grew up in Lula and moved away when I was 15. My wife and I moved back to Gainesville in 2004. I’ve practiced law here since then and opened Lazenby Law Group in 2013.”

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
A: “I’ve met many, but the most interesting would be Rev. Tom Smiley. He is my pastor at Lakewood Baptist, and he is a beacon of light in a troubled world. Dr. Smiley is exactly what a Jesus follower is supposed to be like.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “Tough question, but I’d have to say my wife and I have always wanted to see Israel.”

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
A: “‘The Natural’ with Robert Redford, Tombstone, and Gladiator. I don’t watch much TV, but watching QB1 on Netflix with my sons never gets old.”

Q: What advice would you give to people?
A: “Don’t believe the negativity you see in the ‘news’ is reflective of society. Most folks are good people who just want to raise their families and live in a peaceful community.”

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
A: “I’d have to venture out a bit and go to Lula. The original Lula Pharmacy in downtown with its ice cream counter was pretty special.”

Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
A: “Either Flo Groberg or Leroy Petry so I could learn about the heart of a real American hero. We’d probably go to Mellow Mushroom as I suspect both are pizza and beer kind of guys.”

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
A: “Gainesville is a close knit community whose citizens actually care about one another. It’s people taking care of other people that lifts us all and make me feel like this is my home.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “I think I’ll be rocking along about the same in five years. In 10 years, Jennifer and I will likely be empty nesters and a bit lost as to how to cope with that.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “If it ever gets adequately stabilized, I think I’d like to return to Afghanistan and see what’s changed since I left there in 2002.”

Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
A: “The Eagles.”

Q: In hard times we can sometimes see and recognize greatness in those around us. Hard working. Positive attitudes. Helping on the front lines. Who is one of our local shining lights today?
A: “Finally, an easy question – Jennifer Lazenby. She works so hard to make the lives of our kids as perfect as they can be and she’s the best I’ve ever seen at doing so. Public spotlights and “news”worthy accomplishments aren’t really what’s important in revealing greatness. Greatness often goes unnoticed until you really look for it.”

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
A: “Marmore Falls near Terni, Italy.”

Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
A: “July, Christmas, and Sept. 30 – my anniversary.”

Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A: “Another easy one – Jennifer Lazenby. It may be repetitive, but she’s been a 10 out of 10 since the day I met her at Double D Burger June 24, 1996.”

Q: Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
A: “Leonardo DiCaprio – the most underrated actor in Hollywood.”

Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
A: “Bacon and bacon.”

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
A: “Kelly Barrett – my sister-in-law. Never has there been a more positive person. Never.”