T.O. "Lanny" Rainey, Iii

T.O. "Lanny" Rainey, III, 70, a lifelong resident of Dinwiddie County, passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Born in Petersburg, Virginia, he was the son of the late T.O. Rainey, Jr., and Evelyn Sweitzer Rainey; and was also preceded in death by his daughter in law, Sarah E. Rainey.
He was a graduate of Dinwiddie County High School and went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts from Washington & Lee University. He then furthered his education at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary, where he received his Juris Doctorate.
Lanny was a founding partner of Hill & Rainey Attorneys at Law, established in 1982. He had served as the Commonwealth's Attorney for Dinwiddie County from 1986 to 2003, and also served as the attorney for the Town of McKenney, Virginia, and spent time as a substitute judge.
Lanny gave back to his community in a variety of ways. A champion of local youth, he was the co-founder of the Dinwiddie County Youth Soccer Program, served as a soccer coach and referee and was the announcer for the Dinwiddie High School football team. A well traveled man, Lanny explored the globe from Antarctica to the Galapagos Islands, and many places in between. His thirst for knowledge and culture was avid, and he was known as quite the historian and bibliophile.
He was a 50+ year member of the Dinwiddie Ruritan Club, where he served in many capacities and had been awarded the accolade of "Ruritan of the Year". He also served as a board member for the YMCA, was a member of the Kiwanis Club, and had received the Virginia 4H Allstar Award.
Mr. Rainey is survived by his loving wife, Sally A. Rainey of Dinwiddie County; three children, Thomas O. Rainey, IV, and wife Margaret, of Atlanta, Georgia, Kelly A. West, and husband Madison, of Carson, and Stephen R. Rainey of Dinwiddie; his grandson, Benjamin R. West, of Carson; a sister, Donna Faye Rainey Sharber, and husband Henry of Prince George; and numerous cousins and close friends.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 24, 2023 at Smyrna Baptist Church, 18971 Carson Road, Dinwiddie, VA 23841, with his friend and colleague, the Reverend Robert J. Smith, Jr. officiating. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dinwiddie Ruritan Club to support the T.O. Rainey Memorial Scholarship. P.O. Box 351, Dinwiddie, VA, 23841.