Virginia Rayner

Virginia Rayner, 85, of Cleveland, passed away Thursday, May 31, 2012.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 1 from 6-8 p.m. in the Rayner House of the Calvary Episcopal Church. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 2 at Calvary Episcopal Church.
She was born in West Plains, Missouri, on September 15, 1926 to Ralph and Helen Kellett Ward. She moved to the Mississippi Delta in 1953 and went to work at Baxter's as a secretary to the president. Shortly after, she and her husband, Ira Clay Rayner Jr., were married on October 22nd, 1953 in Cleveland at Calvary Episcopal Church.
They enjoyed 58 wonderful years of marriage, raising five children and four grandchildren together. She was known and loved by many young people as, "Nana," the name first adopted for her by her grandchildren. Virginia retired from working in the AV department at Delta State University after 19 years as a photographer and media specialist. Prior to working at Delta State, she owned two businesses, On A Limb and Photo One. She also worked as a social worker for a number of years in Missouri. She served in many different capacities for Calvary Episcopal Church from teaching Sunday school and serving as Junior Warden, to arranging altar flowers and working on the Vestry.
She served as head of Cleveland's City Beautification Committee for several years. Through that position, she reformed the committee to include citizens from all parts of the city, so that the diversity of Cleveland was well-represented for the first time.
Virginia was an amazing photographer. Her photography and poetry has been published in magazines across the south. She also loved attending Delta State's basketball games. She and Clay were such great fans that they earned special seats on the floor of every home game.
She was an avid gardener, a chocoholic, and a cat lover. Her Persian kitty "Silver" was her best feline friend.
She is preceded in death by her daughters Ginger Ann Rayner and Clay Rayner Brock. She is survived by her husband, three children, Pat Rayner Alford (Kent Miller) and Ralph Ward Rayner (Sheila) of Cleveland, Sue Allen Pambianchi (Louis) of Memphis, Tenn.; Son-in Law Eddie Brock; four grandchildren, Emma and Ginger Alford, Gino Pambianchi, and Stacy Rayner; and great grandson Wes Rayner.
Pallbearers will be Ken McGarrh, Herbie Swain, Lee Speakes, Mark Koontz, Todd Jeffreys, and Gary Lucas.
Donations in honor of Virginia may be made to Calvary Episcopal Church or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

First Visitation

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Friday, June 1, 2012
Calvary Episcopal Church 107 South Victoria Ave. Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Service Information

2:00 pm Saturday, June 2, 2012
Calvary Episcopal Church 107 South Victoria Ave. Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Interment Information

New Cleveland N. Bayou Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States