Deacon Henry Lee Rankin

RANKIN, Deacon Henry Lee - age 72, passed away Saturday, October 11, 2014 at Genesys Health Park-Grand Blanc, MI. Family hour 10 a.m. Saturday, October 18, 2014 at House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church, 1851 W. Carpenter Rd. with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Pastor Kenneth L. Stewart officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Association, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Saturday. Deacon Rankin will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday. Deacon Henry Lee “Workhorse” Rankinsbegan his journey of life on May 3, 1942, in Waynesboro, MS. He was the son of the late Sylvester and Annie Lee Rankins. He attended the Wayne County School District and graduated from Riverview High School C/O 1961. In 1966, he relocated to Flint, MI and began working for General Motors and became a Supervisor at Fisher Body. He was a very dedicated worker and rendered faithfully for 33 ½ years and retired in 1999. On October 10, 1987, he was joined in Holy Matrimony to Ann Brown, with this union they were blessed with two sons. Deacon Rankins accepted the Lord as his Savior at an early age. He served on the Deacon Board and sang in the choir at Magnolia Missionary Baptist Church of Waynesboro, MS. He loved the Lord and was committed to do his will. Upon arrival to Flint, MI, he joined Mt Hermon Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Albin Henry. He later moved his membership to New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist under the leadership of the late Bishop Odis A Floyd. There he served as a Deacon and sang in the choir recording two songs, Yes Lord and Well Done. Min. A. Jeffery LaValley stated, “Rankin was faithful, supportive and an example as a choir member to others”. In 1985, he joined Second Friendship Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Anderson Fields where he served as Chairman of Deacon Board for a number of years and a Lead Singer of the Gospel Chorus and Male Chorus. He was also the Youth Choir Coordinator. In 1999, he joined House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Kenneth L. Stewart and served on the Deacon Board and remained a member until his death. Deacon Rankins was affiliated with several gospel groups though out the years. He began singing with Doves of the South in Waynesboro, MS at 16 years old. After moving to Flint, he sung with the Flint Allstars, Paramounts, Southern Trumpant, Guiding Lights, Gospel Southerners and The Flint Cavaliers. The Flint Cavaliers CD “Live in Concert” was released in 1999 with the hit song, “Have You Ever Been Burden”, which was #11 on the Top 20 Gospel Billboard Chart. The Flint Cavaliers CD was also nomined for a Stellar Award and Soul Train Award. The Cavaliers toured the East Coast, West Coast and South appearing on stage with Canton Spiritual, Shirley Caesar, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Jackson Southerners, Lee Williams, William Brothers, Doc McKenzie, Will Neal Johnson and Gospel Keynotes, Lumzy Singers, Bolton Brothers, Spencer Taylor and Highway QC’s, Five Blind Boys and many other Gospel artist. Deacon Henry L. Rankins was truly a LEGEND in his own time. Deacon Henry Lee Rankin “Workhorse” leaves to cherish his precious memories to his devoted and loving wife Ann Rankin. Four daughters: Glendina(Vernon) Martin of Columbus Ga; Bernice(Ervin) Jordan, Carolyn Rankin, all of Waynesboro, MS and Tawana (Clifford) Howard of Shubuta, Ms. Three sons: Curtis Davis of Waynesboro, MS; Henry D(Janice) Rankin and DeAndre Rankin, all of Waynesboro, MS. Nineteen grandchildren: Kayla, Yvaes (Samantha), Alban, Ocion, Yareasia (Antron), Kurtrell, LaShala, Kiara, LaRicho, Chavaurius, Kyaira, Dollie, Jaron, Jazmyn, William, Henry, Nicole, Jalen and Elijah. Thirteen great grandchildren: Kaylee, Cindeyia, Destiney, Kasia, Breasia, Brianna, Brendan, Antwan, Kennadi, Korbin, Kaden, Aden, Kamille. One sister: Argell McGill of Waynesboro, Ms. Seven sister in-laws: Lucille Leavey, Hattie Lee (Odis) Strickland of Portland, Ore; Lorea Golden, Ruth (Curtis) Mitchell, Bobbie (William) Davis all of Flint MI; Donnie Currie of Milwaukee, WI; Lena (Lewis) Tolbert of Antioch, TN. Five brother in-laws: Richard (Kim) Arrington, Charles (Ethel) Brown, Ricky Brown, all of Flint. MI; Larry (Clinteria) Loper of Erie, Penn and John D. Brown of Las Vegas, NV. Special niece: Annie Coleman of Waynesboro, MS along with a host of many nieces, nephews, cousins. Many friends including special friends Billy Pugh, Robert ”Slim”(Dot) Davis, Riverview Class Of 1961, William(Mary) Flippen, James(Bernice) Kiff, Harpo Hopson, Robert Nelson, Sam(Beth) Walker, Ann Nelson, David Brazil, Al and Aaron Malone, Vera Jones and Family, Joe and Annie Jordan and Mother Davis “Dancing Doll”, Minister Dave and Eloise Beltone, Carter McWright and Coworkers of MTA. Deacon Rankin was proceeded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Annie Lee Rankins; brothers, Johnnie and Ed Rankins and sister, Bettie Jean Lindsay. Our heartfelt gratitude and special thanks to Reverence Home Health & Hospice and the 2nd floor doctors and nurse staff of Genesys Health Park, Pastor Kenneth L. Stewart and the House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church family, The Flint Cavaliers and the other groups the payed tribute to Deacon Henry Rankin “The Workhorse” and Second Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Choir.

Deacon Henry Lee Rankin

May 3, 1942 - October 11, 2014