Birchleaf, VA – Clara Jean Counts Raines, age 77 of Rakes Ridge, passed away Monday, March 12, 2018 at Johnson City Medical Center. Born in Dickenson County, she was a daughter of the late Ray Clinton Counts and Onnie Allene Edwards Counts Sykes. She was a homemaker, attended Splashdam Freewill Baptist Church, kept foster children for a number of years, was a past member of the Haysi Rescue Squad and Haysi Kiwanis Club, a past member of the Advisory Board of Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens, and one of the founders of the Sandlick Community Association. She loved her community and was ready to help anyone in need, and also wrote the Sandlick News for The Dickenson Star for a number of years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her step-father, Brice Sykes, husband, Jerryl Raines, daughters; Debbie Sawyers and Ramona Branham, a son, David Jerryl Raines, brothers; Roger Sykes and Ray Counts, and a sister, Madeline Counts.
Survivors include her grandchildren, Shannon Marie Sawyers and Ashley Suzanne Delaney, great-grandchildren; Gabby, Diamond, Ramona, and Jessee, sisters; Percilla Sue Counts of Boone, NC, Ronda Lynn Charping of Trussville, AL, and Elizabeth (John) Slaski of Roanoke, VA, and brothers; Kit Barry Sykes of Speedwell, TN and Johnny (Jan) Sykes of Clintwood, VA.
Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Haysi Funeral Home with Danny Sluss officiating. Burial will follow in the A.J. Edwards Cemetery on Rakes Ridge. Pallbearers will be Charlie Counts, Billy Counts, Craig Sykes, Mike Charping, Daniel Teague, Allen Pelton, Brandon Arrington, and Jamie Arrington. The family will receive friends after 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 16 at the funeral home where a song service will be held at 7:00 p.m. with Bill Rose and the Splashdam singers.