Jerry Rainey

Jerry D. Rainey was born August 9, 1932, to Sam Bo and Bobbie Lee Rainey in Mount Holly, AR. Growing up, he was best known as J.D. or "one of those Rainey boys."

Jerry accepted Christ at an early age at the New Hope Baptist Church in Mount Holly, where he attended church and school.

As a youngster, he worked at Watkin's Lumber Mill. Jerry left El Dorado at the age of 20 and returned in 2014. While up North in Chicago, he worked at a steel plant and started 'Jerry and Maudie Rainey Upholstery Co.,' where he and his wife worked side by side. He taught his brother Paul the trade. Wherever he was over the years, he kept in contact with his brothers. He would say, "I need to check on this brother and that brother," and continued to do so until his passing.

Jerry married Magdalene Shears, and this union was blessed with three children: Nathan, Elnora, and Mary Jean. Later he married Maudie, and this union produced one child, LaTanya Rainey of Chicago. He also has a son, Robert Rainey of Detroit.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; brothers John Culp, S.J. Culp, Timothy Culp, Eddie Rainey, Dr. Paul Rainey, and Sammy Rainey, and a sister Ethel Palmer; and two grandchildren, Eric and Mona Cain.

Jerry's legacy will be cherished by his sons Nathan Rainey of El Dorado and Robert Rainey of Detroit, Michigan, and his daughters Elnora Rainey Harris of El Dorado, Mary Jean Rainey-Johnson (Eddie James) of El Dorado, Latanya Rainey-Brown of Chicago; his sister Francis Gray of California; bonus children Laura Nell Ritchie Johnson, Loretta Whatley (Tommy Lee), Toni B. Perry (David), and Phoebe Harris; a host of nieces and nephews, 22 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren.