Rev. Rutherford Earl Layne

Rev. Rutherford Earl Layne, age 87, passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at Holston Manor, Kingsport, Tn. He was born in Dickenson County, Va. and graduated from Dickenson Memorial High School. He and his wife Lois moved to Northern Virginia in 1964 and to Warsaw, Va. in 1983, and lived there until returning to Abingdon in 2002. In 2010, Rev. Layne and his wife Lois moved to Kingsport to live with their daughter and son-in-law. Rev. Layne earned a Doctorate of Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary. He pastored Bradley Forest Church and Charity Baptist Church in Manassas, Va. He was active in Campsite Evangelism in Warsaw, Va, and he also had numerous nursing home ministries. Rev. Layne loved writing poetry and Bible studies. He was proud of his online “Layne Ministries” web site, which was active until about one year ago. Rev. Layne was predeceased by his parents, Creed and Teetta Vanover Layne; his wife of 66 years, Lois; his daughter Gail Layne Bennett; brothers Carl, Thurston, Clayton, Linden, and James Claude; and sister Thelma. Surviving are his daughter Judy Shepherd and husband Bob of Kingsport, Tn; grandsons Bobby and Andrew Shepherd and Allen King; ten great-grandchildren, and one great- great-grandchild. A special friend, Judy McGuire, also survives. A funeral service for Rev. Rutherford Earl Layne will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 18, 2015 in the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, Va. with Pastors Brad Davis and Greg Cyphers officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens where casket bearers will be Danny Robinson, Roderick Mullins, Andrew Mullins, Josh Davis, George Hilton and Eddie McGuire. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 17, 2015 at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service. The family would like to offer special thanks to Amedisys Hospice for the love and care shown Rev. Layne, especially by caregivers Larry and Connie. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Antioch Baptist Church Missionary Fund, 1016 Old Airport Road, Bristol, VA 24201. Those wishing to share memories and express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. The family of Rev. Rutherford Earl Layne is being cared for by Farris Cremation and Funeral Center, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).