Ethel Marie Rainey was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma to the parents of Mina and Robert Blackshear. At a young age her family relocated to Northern California and later to Los Angeles, California.

She was introduced to Christianity, influenced by the strong participation of her mother and father in the church as a child. She was a member of St. Paul Baptist Church of Los Angeles. She later joined the congregation of Reverend Curtis and his wife Mrs. Curtis with other members of her family where she was an active member of the usher board and other organizations. She was born into a family of many ministers particularly on the maternal side of her family of Bridges.

At a young age she met and subsequently married Judge Matthew Rainey. This was truly a marriage ordained by our Heavenly Father lasting more than fifty eight years until she made her transition on the evening of Saturday, October 5, 2013. Her husband and sons never left her bedside. God provided the strength to her family to fulfill this mission. This demonstrates the love that her husband and children had for her, expressed through action and words.

To this beautiful union four sons were born, blending two sons from two previous marriages. Ethel’s commitment was her family. They were one of the first Black families to move to Inglewood, California. Her children became the first Blacks to attend Warren Lane Elementary School.

She received most of her secondary and higher levels of education in California, despite the opportunity that she had to attend Prairie View College in Texas, gratis, because of her father’s family name of Blackshear and the founding of the college. She was an exceptionally strong wife and mother. After her children were grown, she grasped the opportunity to become a Career Advisor for the Compton Unified School District where she diligently worked at Dominguez High School, providing opportunities to students in preparation for college and the workforce. She not only assisted in molding the lives of her sons but also the lives of hundreds of high school students seeking career advice and preparation.

Ethel Rainey leaves her legacy through her family and all of the lives that she touched as she traveled through this world. You can certainly say that she did it her way, which was many times quiet and unassuming; however, when she spoke all ears listened.

To this quiet, giving, loving, strong woman who was always there for you, God made the last decision that it was time for her to give up this earthly life and come home for her heavenly reward.

She leaves her love and many pleasant memories in the hearts of her cherished and loving husband Judge M. Rainey; sons, Daniel, Reginald, Gregory, Darryl, Ronald and her nephew and son Kevin Lockridge, and she now joins John, her oldest son who preceded her in death; daughters-in-law, Toni, Rhonda; two special daughters, Angela, Carolyn; five grandsons, Allen, Michael, Christopher, Jonathan, and David whose father John and Patricia preceded her in death; two granddaughters, Ajeia, Malaysia; one brother, Lorenzo Blackshear; one sister,
Dr. Marion Lockridge; sisters-in-law: Annetta (husband Nobie Kennedy), Alice Rainey, Bobbie Durio; Margaret Rainey, and Ruthena Rainey; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Brothers: Edward, Leon, Raymond, Andrew, and James Blackshear; sisters: Margaret Laws and Ruth Willams preceded her in death. Her mother and father Robert and Mina Blackshear made their transition also and will receive another jewel, Ethel Marie Rainey.

Special thanks are given to Rhonda Parish and Carolyn Scott who have been an integral part of the family for so many years, also spent countless hours and nights by her bedside. Pastor Rose Smith administered prayer and spent nights at the hospital. Special thanks to Ethel’s long time friend Mary Baines Blackshear who was also there for her. Rest in peace knowing that you were well loved by so many.