Ila Jean Rainwater was born July 12, 1932 in Oretta and passed away Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 at her residence in DeQuincy at the age of 89. For many years Ila Jean was a member of The Pentecostal Church where she received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at the age of 32. She had a love for music and sang in the church choir for many years. For the past 26 years she has been a member of Calvary Church of Ragley. In 1996, Ila Jean began serving as a Pink Lady at DeQuincy Memorial Hospital. She loved to bake and her baked goods were always a hit at the bake sales. She loved life; she loved her family and spending time and celebrating with her family. Family was everything to her. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and she will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her daughters, Lana Manuel and husband, Wallace of DeQuincy and Zan Hafer of Sulphur; grandchildren, Daphne Manuel, Johnathon Dean Guillory, Marlena Carlin and husband, Randy, Coty Royer and wife, Heather and Kegan Royer.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ozie Rainwater; daughter, Greta Gillis; parents, Henry and Vester Craft; siblings, Harvey Lee Craft, H. C. Craft, Wesley Wade Craft, Guy Lamar Craft, Bill Craft, Vera Singletary and Gussie Loftin.
The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, and the funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12. The visitation and funeral will be held at Riley Smith & Sons Funeral Home in DeQuincy. Rev. Adrian Littlefield, Rev. Charles Braneff, Jr. and Rev. Alvin Dale Smith will officiate. Interment to follow at Hyatt Cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by Riley Smith & Sons Funeral Home, 1810 W. Fourth St., DeQuincy.
(Paid Memorial)
