Larry Edwin Rainey

Larry Rainey, age 82, joined God's heavenly choir on September 18, 2025. Born on November 20, 1942, in Houston, Texas, he was the third of four children born to Mary and Frank Rainey. Larry was the proud father of 3 children, Cheryl, Craig and Charla. From the time they were very small he had them singing with him.

Larry's life was defined by his passion for singing. He believed his voice was a gift from God, and he always sought opportunities to share it. Whether leading a congregation in joyful praise or creating moments of quiet reverence, Larry brought something special to congregational worship. Spreading God's message through music, Larry sang in churches, at revivals and in choirs. Larry had been a member of the Singing Men of Texas, the Silver Serenaders, and numerous church choirs, many of which he led.

As a young man, Larry was a well-loved youth minister. His crazy antics won the hearts of the youth in his churches and at church camps. Later in life, he worked with the North American Mission Board to bring defunct church camps back to usefulness.

Above all, Larry was known for his gift of encouragement. He never met a stranger and took joy in offering genuine compliments to everyone he encountered-he would complement a smile, a hairstyle, an outfit, or a unique talent he'd seen in you. Larry's love for people was evident in the way he saw each person as a current or future brother or sister in Christ. His presence would change the atmosphere in any room he entered.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary Louise Rainey, brother, Frankie Rainey, son, Craig Rainey and his brother-in-law, Charles Tandy.

In 2016 Larry and Kim met at a Silver Serenaders' choir practice. They married on Valentine's Day, 2017. Larry is survived by Kim (spouse, soulmate and the "boss"), daughters, Cheryl Berenard (John) and Charla Peterson (Joshua), granddaughters, Kristen Reid, Kassi Noyes, and Katelyn Ramos, great-grandchildren, Ashlyn, Issac, Asa, Sadie, Ellie, Keith, Meara, Flint and Ross, sisters, Roena Tandy and Anita Clark, brother-in-law, Frank Clark, and his sister-in-law, Sue Rainey. Larry and Kim's blended family now includes Kahap McClure, Taw McClure, Sierra Peters, Chelsea Walker and Aubree Willis, grandchildren, Teven, Kerstin and Brady McClure, Ezekiel and Elijah Padilla, Silas and Nehemiah Peters, Micah and Ruth Willis.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Baptist Midlothian in the chapel on Monday, October 13th, 2025 at 2pm. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana, Texas.