Eldridge Wayne Rainier, 78, passed away peacefully at Riverside Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Wayne was the son of Jimmy and Sue (Eldridge James Rainier and Sarah Elizabeth Rainier). He was preceded in death by his brother, Abbie, and sister, Carol.

He was a lifelong resident of Gwynn’s Island and a member of Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church. Wayne was a unique individual and he had a good heart. His family has funny stories to tell about Wayne. His mother didn’t drive, so when the kids were young, he encouraged his baby cousin Joy to ask her mother to take everyone to the Tastee-Freeze for ice cream. Everyone piled into the car and Aunt Teenie took everyone for ice cream. As a teenager, Wayne worked at Scrooch’s store, where he had to stuff the insides of chickens on Saturdays and always said he “felt like an obstetrician” on those days. Every year at the Gwynn’s Island Festival, Wayne picked up the fried chicken dinner and would bring it to his Aunt Teenie at the Mathews Convalescent Center. Wayne was a devoted son and cared for his mother during her long illness.

After Scrooch’s, he began his career as a Materials Clerk at the Newport News Shipyard. Former coworkers have memories of visiting Wayne in his area to find the right part. He always had his iced tea handy. He retired to his home on Gwynn’s Island, and was happy watching his favorite TV shows and reading his newspapers.
Surviving are his first cousins are Bob Hudgins and Joy Edwards Zeh, and his second cousins, Tenna and Steve Safrit, along with many other cousins too numerous to enumerate. Wayne was very close to his hairdresser, Katherine Shackle-ford, and regarded her as his best friend.

Wayne was found at home after becoming ill. The family would like to thank those who helped Wayne get the medical care he needed, especially Katherine Shackleford, Corporal Sid Foster of the Mathews Sheriff’s Department, the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad, staff at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital and Riverside Regional Medical Center, Medical ICU and Oncology ICU staff.

Faulkner Funeral Homes, Foster-Faulkner Chapel, Mathews, is assisting the family.

A service will be held at a later date.