Darrell was born to the late Homer Gainum "Jack" Rakestraw and Esther Whitley Rakestraw. He was a 1964 graduate of Kingsbury High School in Memphis and attended the University of Virginia. He was a member of Blue Springs Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School before becoming disabled. He was employed with Kroger as a project engineer and most recently as a photographer with the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and a member of the American Legion Post No. 72 in New Albany.
He was a 32nd degree Mason and held membership in the Joseph Warren Masonic Lodge, York Rite, Scottish Rite and HAMASA Shrine Center in Meridian. He was a member of the Eastern Star. For many years he was instrumental in organizing the Shrine Redneck Clown Memorial Basketball Tournament to raise funds to support the Shrine Hospitals nationwide. He enjoyed photography, researching family history, making people laugh and writing. He had published several articles in The New Age Magazine, a publication of the Scottish Rites of Freemasonry. Most of all, he loved the Lord and was faithful in His service.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Blue Springs Baptist Church with Bro. Neil Davis officiating. Doug Hill was in charge of music. The American Legion performed funeral honors by presenting the American flag to the family. Visitation followed the service in the fellowship hall. The body was donated for research to the University of Tennessee Medical School.
Survivors include his wife, Wava Eaker Rakestraw, whom he married on July 19, 1986; one son, Ronnie Hall and wife, Patricia, of New Albany; two daughters, Regina Hogue and husband, Mike, of New Albany and Robin Hall Lindsey of Oxford; five grandchildren, Lacy Hall, Jacob Hall, Neely Hall, Amanda Hogue and Nicole Hogue; several cousins, including a special cousin, Forrest LaNelle Erwin of Sharon, Tenn.; and special friends, Rick, Jeremy and Ariel Brown of Oxford.
Darrell was loved by all he met and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues and community.
Darrell was also loved by his many friends here at Find A Grave. He was gracious and generous, always willing to help others. Below is a link to his contributor page.
Darrell's contributor page
He was a 32nd degree Mason and held membership in the Joseph Warren Masonic Lodge, York Rite, Scottish Rite and HAMASA Shrine Center in Meridian. He was a member of the Eastern Star. For many years he was instrumental in organizing the Shrine Redneck Clown Memorial Basketball Tournament to raise funds to support the Shrine Hospitals nationwide. He enjoyed photography, researching family history, making people laugh and writing. He had published several articles in The New Age Magazine, a publication of the Scottish Rites of Freemasonry. Most of all, he loved the Lord and was faithful in His service.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Blue Springs Baptist Church with Bro. Neil Davis officiating. Doug Hill was in charge of music. The American Legion performed funeral honors by presenting the American flag to the family. Visitation followed the service in the fellowship hall. The body was donated for research to the University of Tennessee Medical School.
Survivors include his wife, Wava Eaker Rakestraw, whom he married on July 19, 1986; one son, Ronnie Hall and wife, Patricia, of New Albany; two daughters, Regina Hogue and husband, Mike, of New Albany and Robin Hall Lindsey of Oxford; five grandchildren, Lacy Hall, Jacob Hall, Neely Hall, Amanda Hogue and Nicole Hogue; several cousins, including a special cousin, Forrest LaNelle Erwin of Sharon, Tenn.; and special friends, Rick, Jeremy and Ariel Brown of Oxford.
Darrell was loved by all he met and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues and community.
Darrell was also loved by his many friends here at Find A Grave. He was gracious and generous, always willing to help others. Below is a link to his contributor page.
Darrell's contributor page
Darrell was born to the late Homer Gainum "Jack" Rakestraw and Esther Whitley Rakestraw. He was a 1964 graduate of Kingsbury High School in Memphis and attended the University of Virginia. He was a member of Blue Springs Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School before becoming disabled. He was employed with Kroger as a project engineer and most recently as a photographer with the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and a member of the American Legion Post No. 72 in New Albany.
He was a 32nd degree Mason and held membership in the Joseph Warren Masonic Lodge, York Rite, Scottish Rite and HAMASA Shrine Center in Meridian. He was a member of the Eastern Star. For many years he was instrumental in organizing the Shrine Redneck Clown Memorial Basketball Tournament to raise funds to support the Shrine Hospitals nationwide. He enjoyed photography, researching family history, making people laugh and writing. He had published several articles in The New Age Magazine, a publication of the Scottish Rites of Freemasonry. Most of all, he loved the Lord and was faithful in His service.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Blue Springs Baptist Church with Bro. Neil Davis officiating. Doug Hill was in charge of music. The American Legion performed funeral honors by presenting the American flag to the family. Visitation followed the service in the fellowship hall. The body was donated for research to the University of Tennessee Medical School.
Survivors include his wife, Wava Eaker Rakestraw, whom he married on July 19, 1986; one son, Ronnie Hall and wife, Patricia, of New Albany; two daughters, Regina Hogue and husband, Mike, of New Albany and Robin Hall Lindsey of Oxford; five grandchildren, Lacy Hall, Jacob Hall, Neely Hall, Amanda Hogue and Nicole Hogue; several cousins, including a special cousin, Forrest LaNelle Erwin of Sharon, Tenn.; and special friends, Rick, Jeremy and Ariel Brown of Oxford.
Darrell was loved by all he met and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues and community.
Darrell was also loved by his many friends here at Find A Grave. He was gracious and generous, always willing to help others. Below is a link to his contributor page.
Darrell's contributor page
He was a 32nd degree Mason and held membership in the Joseph Warren Masonic Lodge, York Rite, Scottish Rite and HAMASA Shrine Center in Meridian. He was a member of the Eastern Star. For many years he was instrumental in organizing the Shrine Redneck Clown Memorial Basketball Tournament to raise funds to support the Shrine Hospitals nationwide. He enjoyed photography, researching family history, making people laugh and writing. He had published several articles in The New Age Magazine, a publication of the Scottish Rites of Freemasonry. Most of all, he loved the Lord and was faithful in His service.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Blue Springs Baptist Church with Bro. Neil Davis officiating. Doug Hill was in charge of music. The American Legion performed funeral honors by presenting the American flag to the family. Visitation followed the service in the fellowship hall. The body was donated for research to the University of Tennessee Medical School.
Survivors include his wife, Wava Eaker Rakestraw, whom he married on July 19, 1986; one son, Ronnie Hall and wife, Patricia, of New Albany; two daughters, Regina Hogue and husband, Mike, of New Albany and Robin Hall Lindsey of Oxford; five grandchildren, Lacy Hall, Jacob Hall, Neely Hall, Amanda Hogue and Nicole Hogue; several cousins, including a special cousin, Forrest LaNelle Erwin of Sharon, Tenn.; and special friends, Rick, Jeremy and Ariel Brown of Oxford.
Darrell was loved by all he met and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues and community.
Darrell was also loved by his many friends here at Find A Grave. He was gracious and generous, always willing to help others. Below is a link to his contributor page.
Darrell's contributor page
