Dakota Leon Lankford, age 24, of Carrollton, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, November 15, 2025. He was born on March 20, 2001, in Birmingham, Alabama, to Vatanya Payne and the late Gregory Allen Lankford.

A 2020 graduate of Central High School, Dakota worked on the assembly line for Magna/Decostar. He was known for his gentle spirit, warm heart, and uniquely old-soul personality. Dakota loved jazz music, especially Frank Sinatra and the classics. He enjoyed Wii and Xbox games, reading romance novels, and spending quiet evenings with family gathered around a fire. He also had a trademark love for every style of Vans shoes, a small but memorable part of who he was.

Dakota is survived by his mother, Vatanya Payne; his brothers and sister-in-law, Heath (Brittany) Lankford, Brock Lankford, and Cody Lankford; his sister, Ala Lankford, and her fiancé, Micah Wilson; and his beloved nieces and nephews—Riley, Kennedy, Hadley, Wyatt, and Kamdyn. He is also survived by his best friend, Gardner. He was preceded in death by his father.

A private service will be held at a later date.

Messages of condolence may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com.

Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton has charge of arrangements.