Mrs. Esther Loretta Rayner

RAYNER, ESTHER LORETTA THOMAS

After a life of long and faithful service to her family, church, and community, she was called home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2012. She was a devoted wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She taught Sunday School and Training Union at Cedar Crest Baptist Church, served as a Girl Scout leader, and volunteered on many Lions Club projects. A member of The Oaks Baptist Church for over forty years, she will be remembered as a warm and gracious hostess who made everyone feel welcome in her home, as a listener who made each person she knew feel special, and as an encourager who wrote countless notes of support and appreciation to family, friends, and members of her church family. She was preceded in death by Russell Rayner, her loving husband of nearly 60 years. She is survived by daughter Sherry Rayner Fuller and her husband Roger, daughter Jan Rayner Lepping and her husband Bob; by granddaughter Stephanie Fuller and her husband Reggie Busbee Jr.; by grandsons Russell Fuller, Bobby Lepping and his wife Angela, and Steve Lepping; and by five great-grandchildren Brice, Bridget, Brett, and Blake Busbee, and Aubrey Lepping. She is also survived by her sister Doris Reynolds and her niece Patricia Guerra and her husband Rene'. She also leaves behind brothers-in-law Richard Rayner and James Rayner and sisters-in-law Janet Thomas, Ruth Rayner and Evelyn Di Joseph and her husband Joe. Funeral services will be at The Oaks Baptist Church on Friday, June 22nd at 10:00 AM with interment following at Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dr. Bill White and Dr. Heath Marion officiating. The family will receive visitors at Laurel Land Funeral Home Thursday evening between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. If desired, memorials may be made to The Oaks Baptist Church or the National Parkinson Foundation.