Barbara Vanette Raines

On Thursday, September 16, 2021, Barbara Vanette Raines went to be with the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven. She was 65 years old.

Barbara was the daughter of Barbara Jean McCoy and the late Doc Van McCoy, Jr. She was born on July 8, 1956, in Austin, Texas. Barbara graduated from Warner Robins High School and went on to obtain her Master's degree from Mercer University in accounting. She then earned her Doctorate from Anderson Theological Seminary. Barbara used her major in accounting and worked as an auditor with Georgia Bank of Macon and an accounting officer with Bank South for 10 years. During that time, she met and married her husband of 37 years, Julius J. Raines. She felt called to stay at home and homeschool her three children. Her greatest joy was spent not only homeschooling her children but also in helping others do the same. She dedicated herself as a champion for homeschoolers and for their recognition in the college system. Barbara used her gifts to support her husband as a local pastor and as a world mission’s evangelist. She was able to join him on many mission trips sharing the love of Christ. Barbara fully lived out the Bible verse, Luke 10:27, “Love the Lord your God will all of your heart and with all of your strength and with all of your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.”

In addition to her father, Doc Van McCoy, Jr., Barbara was preceded in death by her sister, Loran McCoy. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Julius J. Raines; their children: Kala Raines, Shayla Raines, and Kenan Raines; mother, Barbara Jean McCoy; siblings, Doc (Beverly) McCoy of Waveland, MS; Kenneth (Orlencia) McCoy of Athens; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted children all over the world, and friends.

A special thanks to her sister-in-law, Regina Whitehurst and close friend, Vicki James. Your time and dedication has not gone unnoticed.

Visitation with Barbara’s family will be Monday, September 20, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Second Baptist Church. The funeral service celebrating her life well lived will immediately follow at 3:00 p.m. Following the service, Barbara will be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery. For friends and family unable to attend, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial donations be given to support missions in memory of Barbara Vanette Raines to Trumpet of the Lord Ministries, P.O. Box 2491, Warner Robins, 31095-2491.

Learn more about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at www.mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.