What a blessing Dr. Rainey was in our lives. He married us 50 years ago this June 2nd.  He had a great sense of humor.  During the wedding he performed for our daughter, the wedding ring looked like it had been forgotten. Turns out the groom’s brother had the ring after all. Without hesitation, Dr. Rainey quoted Proverb 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Everyone broke out laughing and the tension in the church was broken. 
What a “Man of God” he was! We were blessed to have had him as our pastor. 

Student.

I had the privilege of being one Dr. Rainey’s students while I attended the Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College. He was also my advisor while attending. His office door was always open and he welcomed students whenever we needed to chat, share prayer requests or have a visit. He always made time for his students. His lectures in classes often were stories of his ministry and life lessons that God had taught him. He had a passion for sharing the Gospel and bringing people to Jesus. He always gave the best hugs when ever you needed them most. His classes easily became my favourite. When I walked that stage and got my degree, he was there to shake my hand and he said “He was proud of me. I’ll never forgot his classes and advice and seeing how he loved his beloved wife Sue. I am sad he’s gone, however he left a legacy that will remember him forever. 

To Sue and family,
We loved Frankie (and Sue) so very much, and were saddened to hear of his passing.  One instance comes to mind that shows Frankie's heart.  Our 13-yr old son was in the children's hospital having surgery.  Frankie called and asked Micah's favourite milkshake from McDonalds.  A short time later,  he and Sue came into the hospital room with the largest strawberry shake McDonalds sells.  Micah lit up with excitement.  It was a simple gesture, but showed so much love, care, and compassion.  Frankie truly had a pastor's heart.  Sue, we grieve with you, and we pray for God's comfort.   This picture is one of many that Brenda took of the two of them ---- they pretty much all look the same---- showing just how much they loved each other.  



Dear Mary, Roena, Larry, and others,
As you may remember Frankie and I have a very special relationship. I remember the time in the living room when he accepted the Lord as his Saviour and the one  when he accepted the call to the ministry.  Bro. Mathis was always proud of his "preacher boys".  I can think of no one from Faith Memorial whose ministry so exemplified his true calling as Frankie. They talk about what comes around goes around and Frankie helped that to come to pass when he was a professor at Howard Payne  and did the marriage counseling for one of our daughters and her husband to be. God's kingdom has been greatly enriched by the teaching and preaching of Frankie. As you sorrow so will I.
Norman Sisk

We had mixed emotions when we heard the news that our beloved Dr. Rainey has been promoted to glory. I knew Dr. Rainey when studying for my M.Div at The Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary as it was called then. Dr. Rainey was a gentle giant among us. I remember fondly discussions in his office about everything, but it always seem to come around to what it meant to be a man of God. He always said hello to me as I passed by his door and every chance he had he reminded me never to let how I feel lead my life, encouraging me to “be a real man, a man of faith.” I’ll never forget that and have often quoted him. Dr. Rainey was such a selfless man and we all loved him. He will be missed but we’ll see him again!

Thank You, Father, for Dr. Rainey.  I was privileged to work for Dr. Roark with the added blessing of sitting by Dr. Rainey's office at HPU.  I loved their banter and Dr. Rainey's ready but kind wit, his warm eyes and smile, and I'm so thankful for the few times I got to see him and exchange hugs during the years after graduation.  Y'all know even better than I what a rare treasure he was and his memory will continue to be.  I love how the writeup points out that, until you join him HOME, you continue to cherish his life.
God bless y'all  richly.  May every person for whom Dr. Rainey cared, prayed, may they come to know Christ Jesus for eternity also.
Love, prayers & gratitude,
Susan H.

Dr.Rainey was one of my professors at CSBS. He was always kind and encouraging. I always loved his classes because he was so knowledgeable but humble and was always willing to answer questions. I have no doubt he was greeted with - well done faithful servant. My condolences to Sue and family as they process this loss. 

So sorry to hear of Dr. Rainey's passing. He was a treasure and I am still so glad he was able to perform our wedding ceremony. Much love and prayers to your family, especially Mrs. Sue.

Oh so sorry to hear. I love you so much. You were Jesus in the flesh to me and my family. So kind, so loving. You were like a grandfather to our girls Savannah and Beccah. I still remember your class where you taught us the ways of God and the day I called you after watching a documentary dispelling Jesus’ divinity and you reassured me that they’ve been saying the same thing for years. I’ll miss you and hope to share some more laughs and see that beautiful smile again soon. 

Rob and Leigh Allain 
MDiv graduate CSBS 2010

We came to know the Raineys while he was a professor at the Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary here in Cochrane. Frankie and Sue “adopted” our family and my grandson, Jaxon called him “Papa Rainey” as Frankie and Sue attended birthdays and family celebrations with us often. 

 Frankie and Sue served faithfully at Bow Valley Baptist Church during their years in Cochrane. They had an open door policy, always willing to talk, help, and pray with the church and seminary families.  Greatly loved by all who knew him, he is now reaping the rewards for a life “well-lived” in humble service to his Saviour.   



I will greatly miss Dr. Rainey.  I would not have made it through Howard Payne without his care and guidance.  He was not only my favorite professor, but he was my advisor as well.  He even helped me with the first sermon I ever preached.  My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.  We can take comfort in the fact that he is at home with the Lord today.
Take care,
Robby Calvert
HPU '90-'93

Dr. Rainey was so special to our family. He was the pastor who married our daughter and her husband. We are so thankful that God sent him to serve here in Canada. We will always treasure the memory of his kindness and how he cared for others.

Dr. Rainey was my professor at HPU many years ago, and it blew my mind to find out that every morning he would pray for the students he would face each day by name! What a man of God!

I'm so sad to hear this news. Dr. Rainey was my favorite professor while attending HPU. He was the sweetest man I've ever known. I'm thankful he was my teacher and I'm so blessed to have known him. 

Dear sweet Sue, Paul, and Rhonda,
My heart hurts for your loss here on this earth. I, as well as my husband David, loved Frankie so very much.  There are so many people whose lives were changed by knowing Frankie. Everywhere we went while in ministry, we met people who had had him as their pastor at one time or for a professor and they invariably called him their favorite professor ever.  This world is a better place because Frankie was here and is certainly poorer now, but heaven is most assuredly richer.  
I love all of you and will forever love Frankie.
- Nancy Locke Huebner (and David)

DR. FRANKIE RAINEY was a great man of God. Frankie was my pastor, a good friend and a dear brother in Christ. We were members of James Avenue Baptist Church for 10 1/2 years. I was also blessed to serve on the church staff with him.
On April 22, 1975 Frankie ordained me to the gospel ministry. I still remember the ordination message that he preached from Acts 14:22-28. He “commended [me] to the grace of God for the work” of the ministry. Frankie and Sue even came to Atlanta in 1998 for the wedding of our daughter Amy Charis. He conducted part of the wedding ceremony and we enjoyed some wonderful fellowship together.
We spent numerous times over the years sharing, laughing and praying together. Several times he mentioned that he was praying daily for me and my family. My wife Lue and I loved Frankie very much and we are grateful to God for the privilege of knowing him. He will be greatly missed! 
Our prayers are with the family during this difficult time. Although we are glad for him, we are still sad for them. He touched the lives of many people. Well done, thou good and faithful servant!


Dr. Rainey was instrumental in leading me to Christ at age 8 in 1977 at James Avenue Baptist Church. He baptized me after a month-long discipleship to ensure I fully understood what I was doing. That was groundbreaking at that time. He was a truly Godly leader and pastor. I and my whole family are thankful for the countless lives he touched.

Dr. Rainey was a loved pastor, humble Bible teacher, and a reflection of the grace of God. In 1979, he officiated over our marriage ceremony for which we will always remember.  We loved his stories that supported the Word and remember his humorous stories of what people said or did that somehow made us feel like one family. Under his leadership, my wife, Sue Ellen, and I experienced a deeper understanding of the Word and a greater love for God and His people. We will miss him but know that he is receiving his reward. We pray God’s grace and comfort upon Sue and the family. 

No finer person ever walked on this planet than this humble man of God who endeared himself to churches where he pastored and to students he taught at both collegiate and seminary levels. He was revered beyond measure.  The world is poorer for his passing, but many people are greatly advantaged for having crossed paths with this man who reflected Christ wherever he went and whatever he did.  Brenda and I extend deepest sympathy to Sue and all members of his family. May God's grace that sustained him now be known in great abundance to all of you in the living of these days.

OBITUARY

Dr. Frankie Earl Rainey Jr.

September 6, 1938 – May 19, 2023

Johnson's Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services