Puryear, Tenn.–A true Henry County icon Bernice Rainey, age 102, died Friday at Towne Square Care of Puryear. Rainey retired after 66 years as the owner and operator of Rainey’s Store in Jones Mill, the last country store in Henry County.
She and her husband, the late Frank Rainey, bought the building where the store was located in 1945. The store building was constructed in 1912 from bricks hand-fired on site.
Bernice’s husband died in 1947 when their son Joe was a child and Bernice persevered as the owner and operator at the store for decades, making it into a gathering place not only for people in the Jones Mill community, but for people all over the county.
The “Bernice Burger” was a popular choice — thick cut of bologna, mustard, salad dressing on white bread –for those who gathered there.
In 2002-2003, the state legislature and Henry County Commission joined to name the bridge adjacent to the store after Bernice and a dedication ceremony was held which drew state and local officials. She was the grand marshal of the Cottage Grove Freedom Festival parade, and in 2013, “Bernice Rainey Day” was proclaimed in the county.
Bernice was a longtime and the oldest living member of Puryear Church of Christ. She loved taking care of her neighbors and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, especially her best friends Dan Paschall and Charles Paschall.
Bernice was born September 5, 1916, in Cottage Grove, TN, to the late Alvie Taylor Holley and the late Nina Poyner Holley.
She was married in 1939 to James Frank Rainey, who preceded her in death in January 1947.
She is survived by one son, Joe Taylor (Rita) Rainey of Puryear, TN; two granddaughters, Gina Harrell of Nashville, TN, and Greta (Brad) Donat of Franklin, TN; nine great grandchildren; and special friends, Ann Buie and Sue Ann Jorrey.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by two sisters, Louise Holley and Estelle Holley Morris; and four brothers, Wade Holley, Julian “Bob” Holley, Harold Poyner Holley, and Gerald Holley.
Arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St, Paris, TN. Visitation will be Saturday, May 11, 2019, from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Ridgeway Funeral Home, and continue Sunday, May 12, 2019, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. The funeral service will be Sunday, May 12, 2019, at 2:00 pm at LeDon Chapel of Ridgeway Funeral Home, with Mike Wimberley officiating.
Serving as pallbearers will be Brad Donat, Cole Donat, Clay Hosford, Brayden Hosford, Derrick Clayton, and Rex Smith. Named as honorary pallbearers are Dan Paschall and Charles Paschall.
Burial will follow in Walker Cemetery in Paris, TN.
Photo by Cherry Jones.