Gertrude DeVaugn Raines passed from this life to Glory to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at the age of eighty-four. She was born to the late Wiley Floyd DeVaughn and the late Addie Cox on February 12,1934 in Vinings, Georgia (Cobb County). She was the sole survivor of her siblings: Buford, Georgia, Edna, Ella and Emma.
Gertrude D. Raines attended Lemon Street High school, Marietta, Georgia. She had a love for music and singing. While attending Lemon Street High, she became a member of the “Glee Club”. She had an outstanding soprano voice and there was talk about her going on to sing opera.
Family was an important part of her life. Gertrude married Bennie Conley December 11, 1954 and from this union were born three children Luborah, Gilbert and Bennie. She later married Robert Lee Raines July 11, 1966 her marriage and ministry partner until his death. Getrude learned to balance family, work and later ministry throughout her life in complimentary way. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and aunt.
As life would have it, Gertrude went on to pursue banking. In 1968, Citizens and Southern Bank employed her. She worked there for 10 years as the Foreign Currency supervisor. After years of committed service to Citizens and Southern Bank, Gertrude decided to leave the stress of her corporate career to star her own business. In 1978 she started a home-based childcare business, “Ma Raines”(as we affectionately called her) Family Daycare Home. She served families and their children well up until the age of seventy-two, when she was made to stop. For almost 30 years Pastor Raines maintained a successful business.
Another page to a different chapter of her life’s was turned in 1978. Gertrude accepted the Lord Jesus as her personal savior; received the baptism of the Holy Spirit; and went running for her life spreading the “good news” of the new life she had found in Christ. Soon she would accept the call to preach and was ordained by Rev. Preston A. York of Second St. John Baptist Church, Smyrna Georgia at a time when it was not popular for a woman to be ordained nor licensed to preach. God was with Rev. Gertrude Raines and her covenant partners in Ministry: Co-Pastor Ethel Waldon and Rev. Leroy Rankin. These three servants of God, by the unction of the Holy Spirit launched a great work, a mission named Missionaries For Christ. They held weekly bible studies in Rev. Raines home for many months and by request they went into the homes of others. Missionaries for Christ, Inc. under the leadership of Rev. Gertrude Raines spread through out Metropolitan Atlanta, into Griffin, Hampton and Lovejoy, Georgia. They fed the hungry, clothe the naked, and aided the homeless. This ministry thrived for many years spreading the Gospel in truth and love. Soon, the people that Rev. Raines served, asked her to be their pastor. With much prayer and consecration, she surrendered to God and the idea to shepherd His flock. In 1981 it was official, Gertrude D. Raines began pastoring Missionaries For Christ, Inc. Church.
For almost 30 years Pastor Raines maintained a thriving ministry. She believed in encouraging others to walk out God’s purpose for their lives and provided them a platform to share ministry gifts to the further the Gospel. Therefore Missionaries for Christ birthed out many ministries throughout the city. Pastor was called by some, The Devil Buster because she played no games when came to deliverance. She would get in the trenches and fight, pray, work… to do whatever it took to help others achieve “Victorious Living”. She continued strong standing and preaching until her health began failing in latter years. At such time she released pastorate to Rev. Wayman F. Waldon, who is now carrying on the work of ministry.
Gertrude D. Raines is preceded in death by her late husband, Robert Lee Raines.
She leaves to mourn and cherish her memory, 3 children: Luborah A. Brown (Charles), Gilbert E. Conley, Bennie E. Conley Jr. (Melaime); 4 Grandchildren:
Fartardo (Todd) Conley, Benjamin F. Conley (Marqitta), Janine C. Conley-Barberino (David), Stephen G. Brown (Josie) Great grandchildren: Kyleigh S. Conley (Tawanna), Caleb D.Conley, Tracey L. Brown, Kyle B. Conley and a host of great and great–great nieces and nephews; a very special sister in Christ, Ethel Waldon; friends, spiritual sons and daughter, and members (past and present) of Missionaries for Christ.
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