Cookie Rainey

Surrounded by loving family and friends, Cookie Smith Rainey, 66, of Campobello, SC, passed away at Spartanburg Medical Center on Thursday, July 30, 2015 to be with her Lord and Savior. She was born on August 27, 1948 at Spartanburg General Hospital, the second of four children of the late Clinton Richard Smith, Sr. and Frances Elizabeth Sitton Smith. When her older brother couldn't say Harriette, he nicknamed her "Cookie" after a character in the Dagwood comic strip and the name stayed with her. Cookie graduated from Spartanburg High School in the Class of 1966, attended USCS, and worked in the Spartanburg General Hospital Emergency Room. It was there she met the love of her life and future husband, Terry Joe Rainey. She was saved, born again and scripturally baptized at Green Street Baptist Church and grew up in Arch Street Baptist Church, participating in and leading the Girls Auxiliary, Sunday School, and singing in the choir. As a young lady, she is remembered for her powerful solo rendition of the iconic American hymn "Because He Lives". Cookie married her husband, Pastor Terry Joe Rainey in November 1969 and faithfully supported his ministry as they served at Unity Baptist Church in Woodruff, SC, Airport Road Baptist Church in West Columbia, SC, Centerville Baptist Church in Anderson, SC, Mount Vernon Baptist Church and Christian School in Stockbridge, GA, and at Motlow Creek Baptist Church for the past 11 years. Cookie was the Medical Director of LifeAid Ministries, had a passion for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and was a faithful prayer warrior to friends and colleagues across America, Europe, and Central America. Together with her husband, she participated in Revivals in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia as well as organizing medical supply relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. As Medical Director of LifeAid Ministries, Cookie helped raise $4,000,000 worth of medical supplies for mission trips to Eastern Europe and Central America. Cookie and Terry made mission trips, preached the Gospel and ministered to people of Moscow, seven major cities and countless villages in Russia. They worked in Romania and Hungary, where Cookie ministered in a street hospital. She delivered medical supplies to an orphanage for deaf children and Down Syndrome children in Russia and she helped organize efforts to build houses for indigenous people of Guatemala. During mission trips to Guatemala, Cookie ministered to pastor's wives, leading conferences and speaking to crowds of 400 wives on numerous occasions. She mentored women in Russia, Romania, Hungary, and Guatemala. Cookie hosted and lead numerous Women's Conferences and Discipleship Ministry across the Southeastern United States. She was very family oriented, loved, admired, and respected by her immediate and extended family, always the life of every party and celebration. Cookie is survived by her husband of 46 years, Pastor and Evangelist Terry Joe Rainey; one beloved daughter, Shannon Frances Sally Rainey Hood (Chris) of Inman, SC; one sister, Libby Smith Worley (Randy) of Boiling Springs, SC; two brothers, Clinton Richard Smith, Jr. (Marie) of Anderson, SC and James R. "Jim" Smith of Spartanburg, SC; a sister-in-law, Lynda Chapman Lowe of Spartanburg, SC; 5 nephews; 3 nieces; 13 great-nephews; 6 great-nieces; and several first cousins. The family will receive friends 6:00-9:00 PM Saturday, August 1, 2015, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307. A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at 3:30 PM Sunday, August 2, 2015, at Holston Creek Baptist Church, 311 Holston Creek Church Rd, Inman, SC 29349, by Pastors Teddie Turrentine, Bryan Yelton, Keith Kelly, Lloyd Stancil, and Robbie Smith. Burial will be in Motlow Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 2300 Motlow Creek Rd, Campobello, SC 29322. Pallbearers are Jimmy Yelton, Robbie Smith, Tris Smith, Richie Smith, Dagan Rainey, Cameron Rainey, Mike Worley, and Sam Worley. Honorary escort will be members of The Joy Sunday School Class that she taught. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Cookie Smith Rainey please visit our Sympathy Store.