Raines entered my mother’s life 12 years ago. She had been widowed for awhile and we would worry about her being lonely. Her and raines became fast friends and started spending time together. They would go out to eat , have domino/card nights, and even dancing ! My mom was happier than I had seen her in a long time. Raines shortly became family spending holidays , birthdays , and Sunday dinners with us. He was always there for any of us when we needed help with anything. If we even mentioned starting a project he was there ready to start it before we were ... ha. My entire family will miss him dearly and his absence will be felt at our gatherings. May he be at peace now with his loved ones who went before him. 
My prayers with my mom and all his kids and grandkids. 

So lucky to have had Raines,in my life,the day he walked in,it was never the same.I looked forward to what the day would bring,we stayed busy and I found out just how special this man that I cared so much for was. So smart and if you needed help he was there ,he always was for me. There is so much I am going to miss about him.I am just so happy that I had him to make my day's brighter and I hope I did the same for him.                                   Sue Mccann


I met Gerry and Raines in the early 50's.   I was going to St. John School.  Gerry and my mother were friends.  I thought Gerry was just beautiful.  She was always so nice to me.  They would go out with my parents and since I was the oldest, I was left in charge.   Raines was such a nice man and always so good to his family.  I am so sad for the family.   My deepest sympathy Richard, Mary and ALL the family.   Peace, Mercy and Love.   Happy Trails Raines

I met Raines, as best as I can establish, in the summer of 1968 at the skydiving drop zone at the Cockrum, Mississippi airport.  I was 18 at the time, and Raines was well up into his 40s.  Even with the significant age difference, we became fast friends.  When I turned 21, Raines was my skydiving instructor.

Through those ensuing years, Raines and I had many adventures at drop zones around the Mid-South.  Those were some crazy, fun years, and we made many great memories!!  After Raines and I both quit skydiving (each of us with a broken leg noted in our logbooks to show for it!), we stayed friends. 

During the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, I owned a security company in Memphis.  Raines worked with me doing installations for a couple of years.  He was always a level-headed, hard worker, and never failed to be a genuine pleasure to be around.  He was always honest and sincere, always ready to be a friend to anyone.  

Even after I moved away from Memphis, Raines and I stayed friends, chatting often.  Every time I have come back to Memphis to visit, Raines has been one of the two main friends I made those trips to see!

I have heard it said that if we have 5 real friends during our lives, we are indeed blessed.  I have been thusly blessed to have had Raines as one of those 5 friends.  Through these 50+ years Raines and I have known each other, he has been very much like a brother to me.  Because of our long and abiding friendship, I think it highly likely that Raines and I are fellow members of the same soul-group.

I will sorely miss Raines, but I will never forget him!  I know that, some day, we will all see him again…

My sincerest condolences to Richard, David, Jeff, Sue McCann, and the rest of the Sojourner family...


For my entire life — all 33 years of it so far — Mr. Raines has been a favorite and trusted friend. He was always ready with a warm welcome and an invitation to sit at his table or to swing outside on the porch swing. He never minded us playing in his yard or talking his ear off with the adventurous tales of childhood. He was present for so many of my childhood memories. When I got older he was a steady presence still. To his family, friends, Miss Sue, and my own parents, who loved him as family too — I’m so sorry for your loss. It is deeply felt here as well! 

I want to express my sympathy for the Sojourner family. I grew up next to Mr. Raines, and for over 30 years he was a presence in my life. He was really more of a grandfather figure to me rather than a neighbor, and I will miss him greatly. I appreciate all he did for me over the course of my childhood, and many of my childhood memories have him etched in the background. He is definitely someone I will miss always.
In loving memory,
Walter Whitworth

National MS Society

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Family Will Receive Friends

Funeral Service

Interment

Albert C. Sojourner, Sr.

Mattie Lou Sojourner

Geraldine "Gerry" Sojourner

Ruby Faye

Evelyn Sutton

Albert C. Sojourner Jr.

Gordon Sojourner

Richard Sojourner (Mary)

David Sojourner (Gayle)

Raines Jeffrey Sojourner (Eileen)

Robert Hamilton (Catherine)

Timothy

Jennifer

Kevin

Paul

Jill

John

Fourteen (14)

One (1)

Sue McCann

Memphis Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

Raines Sojourner

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Raines Sojourner

6 November, 1924 – 14 August, 2020

Memphis Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

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