Laurie Plant Rainer of Reform, AL passed away July 2, 2021 at Arbor Woods Health & Rehab. Funeral services will be 11:00 am Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at Reform First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Gordo City Cemetery with Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing Visitation will be from 6 - 8 pm Monday, July 5, 2021 at the funeral home.
Laurie Plant Rainer was born on January 29, 1928 in Albany, GA to James Daniel Plant and Janet Byrd Plant. From age 5 years to her early twenties Laurie lived in Tallahassee, FL. She is a graduate of Leon High School and Florida State University (FSU). She majored in Elementary Education and enjoyed learning and teaching throughout her life. At FSU Laurie was an active member of Kappa Delta Sorority. At one point in time she had over forty living Kappa Delta family members. Following college she taught school in Panama City, FL where she met Jamie F. Rainer, Jr. from Gordo, AL an officer at Tyndall Air Force Base. Jamie and Laurie married in 1952 and later moved to Pickens County, AL to live and raise a family. Laurie was passionate about her many civic and church involvements. She was a dedicated and faithful member of the First United Methodist Church in Reform, AL. After identifying a need for early childhood education in the community, Laurie spearheaded the effort to create the Childcare Center of the First United Methodist Church in 1999. This continues to meet the needs of the community. Two of her great grandchildren have been students in this program.
Laurie was engaged in lifelong learning for herself and others. She consistently was curious and always wanted to know "the why" of an issue. An avid reader and appreciative student of the arts, Laurie loved to share these passions with others including reading and art projects with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is fondly known as Nanna. She had a deep love for her family and was truly a role model and positive influence.
In addition to love for her family, Nanna had a love for "the coast", St Teresa Beach about an hour south of Tallahassee where she spent wonderful hours relaxing, studying sea life, and enjoying delicious seafood from childhood to this past year. She has passed this love for St Teresa to the generations of her family which follow.
She holds a special place in her heart for Beau, her fourteen-year-old Pomapoo, who enriched every day of her life with companionship and provided an avenue for exercise.
She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Janet Plant; her beloved husband of 48 years, Jamie F. Rainer, Jr.; brothers in-law and sisters in-law: Charles A. Butterworth; Jean Rainer Graham and James Albert Graham; Betty Rainer Ambrose and Charles E. Ambrose; Dr. W. Gerald Rainer and Lois S. Rainer; and Gypsy Rainer Richards.
She is survived by her daughter Dr. Rebecca Rainer Pauly and her husband Dr. Daniel F. Pauly of Roanoke, VA; her son John Daniel Rainer and his wife Melissa K. Rainer of Reform, AL; her sister, Rubie Plant Butterworth or Tallahassee, FL; her brother in-law James O. Richards of Birmingham, AL; her grandchildren: Dr. Joseph D. Pauly, Alice R. Pauly, Abby Rainer Smart and her husband Jed Smart, Danny J. Bradford and his wife Ashley Bradford, Natasha Bradford Sutton and her husband Brandon Sutton, Joshua Bradford and his wife Maria Bradford, and Jeremy Bradford: her great grandchildren: Waverly Smart, Lola Smart, Selah Bradford, Lane Sutton, and John Hunter Sutton. She has many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins spread throughout the US. Her local niece, Judy Graham Smith's kindness during these later years is most appreciated.
Thank you to Gloria Williams and the staff at Arbor Woods Health and Rehab Center who served as caregivers.
Her grandsons will serve as Pallbearers.
The family suggests memorials to Reform First United Methodist Church, 807 3rd Street N.E., Reform, AL 35481 or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.