- Date Of Birth: October 24, 1927
- Date Of Death: February 19, 2021
- State: Alabama
Deacon Eddie Rankin, a native and resident of the Gainestown community, answered the Master’s call on Friday evening, Feb. 19, 2021, surrounded at his home by his beloved family. He was born Oct. 24, 1927 to Walter Rankin and Florestee Hunt Rankin. Deacon Rankin was a faithful and dedicated member of the Gainestown AOH Church of God, where he was one of the founding members who also helped build the church. He served on the Deacon and Trustee Board until his health began to fail, and was the past superintendent of the Sunday School. The oldest member of the church, he dearly loved serving and praising the Lord. Deacon Rankin was a loving, caring and kind man and a great provider for his family. Before his health declined, he loved farming and making cane syrup. He was a very independent man.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his beloved wife of more than 60 years, Flora Rivers Rankin; daughter, Mary Bell Mose; sister, Ella Mae Fox; brothers, Zebadee, Willie Lee, Lawrence James, Lindsey and the Rev. Jethro Rankin Sr.; and two sons-in-law, Archie Foxx and Eddie Lee Robinson.
Left to cherish his memories are seven daughters, Mary Robinson and Sellasteen Foxx, both of Gainestown, Bessie (Henry Clay) Rodgers of Oakland, Calif., Mattie (Charles) Law of Coffeeville, Margaret Rankin of Richmond, Calif., Jacqueline (Maury, Sr.) Bryant of Walker Springs and Wrena Rankin of Leroy; four sons, Eddie James (Marlyn) Rankin of Richmond, Calif., Sammie Rankin of Vallejo, Calif., Samuel (Helen) Rankin of Gainestown and Mack (Brenda) Rankin of Oakland, Calif.; one sister, Ida Mae Agee of Prichard; two brothers, William James (Barbara) Rankin of Whistler and Henry Lee (Deloris) Rankin of Mobile; with a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; four sisters-in-law, Julia M. Rivers of McIntosh, Irene (Johnnie) Pogue of Satsuma, Lelia McCants of Jackson and Eleanor Green of New York, N.Y.; three brothers-in-law, Spencer (Eula Mae) Rivers of Gainestown, and Jessie Rivers and Leslie Sylvester, both of New York; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and his beloved church family.
