Remembering Barbara E. Raines, New Pilgrim First Lady, Educator, and Servant of God and People
by Clarence Thomas, Jr. (thomasjr63@gmail.com), MGI Contributor
On November 17, 2022, humanity lost a great member of the religious, social, educational, and civic communities. But with the transitioning of Barbara Elaine Raines — New Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church’s original First Lady — what wasn’t lost was the indelible mark she left on all these facets of life.
Born January 30, 1951, Raines became a founding member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, where according to its current leader Reverend Dr. Henry C. Ficklin, she was onsite during its 1962 groundbreaking while in elementary school. She was a member of the youth choirs and the Faith and Inspirational Choir. She and her husband, the late Reverend Curtis Raines, Sr., served as beloved Directors of Mt. Vernon’s Youth Department for several years where she coordinated youth activities and helped greatly in the development of Mt. Vernon’s youth.
When Curtis, Sr. was ordained as a Deacon, she became a Deaconess, and they served Mt. Vernon’s congregation and Ficklin, faithfully. Overtime her family grew to include three biological children, Curtis, Jr. of Atlanta, who serves as an advisor of industry leading software startups; Varina Slaughter, a public-school teacher of 25 years; and Bryant, who passed in 2021 after succeeding his father as pastor of New Pilgrim following Curtis, Sr.’s death in 2015. However, she helped raise and nurture several others in their upbringing.
Ficklin recalled during a recent conversation taking missionary trips throughout the south with the Raines family, frequently visiting their home, and becoming close to them as a result. He knew Barbara Raines for over fifty years and says the retired Bibb County School teacher was soft spoken and often encouraged people to service The Lord. He described Raines as a First Lady like we shall not soon see again. “She was one of the foremost First Lady’s I’ve ever known. When you were in her presence you knew she was a First Lady,” he stated. “She balanced family, church, civic, and professional life well.”
Ficklin couldn’t be more right when one considers all that she was involved in. On the church front, Raines served faithfully for 34 years as First Lady of New Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church and for 31 years as Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Bolingbroke’s First Lady. She served as First Lady Emeritus, a Deaconess, Mass Choir Member, Choir Directress, Young Adult Sunday School Instructor, Youth Team Leader, Vacation Bible School Director and Facilitator for the Learning Skills for Life Summer Youth and After-School programs.
Raines worked diligently as the First Lady of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of the State of Georgia under the leadership of her husband. She operated alongside him in the Bellevue Hillcrest Ministers’ Alliance, Mount Pleasant Association, Union Baptist Association, and the Sixth District of the General Missionary Baptist Convention as Coordinator of the Ministers’ Wives and Widows of General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia from 2008 until 2019. She served as a member of the Ministers’ Wives and Widows of Macon and Vicinity.
She was a member of the Macon Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Bibb Retired Education Association and Retired Counselors. She was a mentor at the Macon Youth Development Center and served as a Rainbow Grief Counselor, Co-Team Captain of the American Cancer Society, a former member of the board of American Lung Association, a member of both 4-H Clubs of America and Cancer Relay for Life.
Raines earned a host of special recognitions including National Register’s Who’s Who, Middle Georgia School Counselors Association Certificate of Merit, and was featured in the book “Standing on Their Shoulders: A Celebration of the Wisdom of African-American Women” by Dr. Catherine Meeks.
Her son Curtis, Jr. fondly revisited his mother’s life with the Middle Georgia Informer. His recollections of her included being a second-grade school student of hers. Her never disposing of a book because she loved teaching children how to read. His mom and dad founding New Pilgrim in 1981 with thirty-three members and only $168 in the bank. And his parents’ belief in investing in people. “They believed that love is what love does. She was given a vision to serve as a young child and believed that investments in people never die,” Curtis, Jr said while beating back tears.
Her strength, humility, and faith were evident he added even as death approached. Curtis, Jr. spent intimate time with his mother as she was transitioning following her instructions on dressing her for the occasion and making sure that two of her favorite songs, “One More Sunny Day” and “We Are Our Heavenly Father’s Children”, were rendered at her memorial service. One of her last statements to him was how proud she was of her children and grandchildren, as she also urged them to remain faithful to God and encouraged despite her going away.
Reverend Walter L. Glover, Jr of Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church, organized and sanctioned New Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church. He worked with Raines and her husband to develop the church and describes her as a devoted pastor’s wife that gave of herself, her time, her talents, and her finances to make New Pilgrim a full fledge church. Glover says she’ll be remembered for her love of people, getting things done in a Christ like manner, and working beside her husband instead of in front of him. “She could fit into any sphere of influence. Barbara had the know-how and a winning personality,” he said. “She was always reaching for something higher than we could envision.”
While it’s been a tough seven years for Curtis, Jr and Varina following the loss their parents and sibling, he remains what his parents wanted – faithful and encouraged – and reminds others going through their own trials to do the same. “As my parents taught us, I’m not just living for myself, but others here too. Their teachings will reside within us forever.”
Barbara Elaine Tharpe Raines is additionally survived by her siblings, James Tharpe, Genia Reid, and Lisa Green; a surviving daughter-in-law Ilashia Raines; grandchildren; in-laws; two aunts; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends; along with the New Pilgrim, Mount Zion, and Mt Vernon Missionary Baptist Church Families.
