Obituary for Todd Rawlings
This is the story of Marshall Todd Rawlings. Todd was a steady, kind, and quite humorous man who was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished. Standing tall at 6’6’’, Todd could be described as a “gentle giant.” There is no doubt Heaven is echoing Todd’s contagious laughter as he rejoices with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Todd’s story starts on August 2, 1961, the second of six children, son to William Marshall and Betty Lee (Wertman) Rawlings. He was born in Keyser, WV, where he would spend his childhood, grow up, and make many lifelong friends.
Todd loved God. His passion was to serve God. And he did. After graduating from Keyser High School in 1979. Todd attended Alderson Broaddus College to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Studies. While there, one of his professors noted Todd's spirtual hunger and encouraged him to speak at a small local church in Philippi, WV. This experience revealed Todd’s natural pastoral college, he planted a church in New Creek, WV. Shekinah Christian Church. He immersed himself in his community, working with low-income and homeless individuals to see them trained and employed. His heart ached for the city’s foster children, so Todd also served at Burlington Family Services.
It was 1991. Todd made a significant and difficult move away from family and friends. He followed God’s call and continued his education at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, earning a Masters of Theology and Business Management.
Little did Todd know his move to Virginia would begin one of his most adventurous journeys with Jesus. He was about to meet the love of his life, a vivacious young lady who was as much in love with Jesus as he was. Todd married Rena Gaye Butler from Calvert City, KY, in 1994. They spend many hardworking years managing several businesses, serving together in ministry, and most importantly, raising four outstanding children, all of whom are Christ-serving young adults. Can you just see Todd brimming with pride?
There was nothing pretentious about Todd. Transparent and pleasantly simple. Todd was renowned for his deep-frying food skills and splattering grease everywhere. Multiple mounted deer heads in the living room display his hunting prowess. Three published books, with a fourth in process, illustrate Todd’s clever craft at wordsmithing. He loved cars, Duke basketball, eating butter, and collecting stuff...lots of stuff! He equally disliked technology, drinking water, and the Tarheels.
Todd wore many hats. Teacher, mentor, athletic coach, business entrepreneur, car salesman, and radio host. The last chapter of Todd’s story includes his magnificent passion as senior pastor of New Life Virginia Beach. Fourteen full years of mentoring and teaching, discipling and preaching. He loved his church body, describing them as “the most amazing people on the face of the earth.” Certainly, his quick wit kept his congregation rolling in laughter because he could find humor in the most ordinary of life circumstances. His true pastoral strength emanated from his undying devotion to the Word of God. That legacy lives on.
Loved ones that cleared the path in Heaven for Todd are his father Marshall, and younger brother, Ricky. Without a doubt, the three are making noise in Heaven, praising God. An amazing truth!
Loved ones that will miss Todd until they meet again in Heaven are his faithful wife, Rena; his sweet joy who will “always be my little girl” Alexis Millhouse (husband Cooper), his first-born son Ricky, who continually rescued his dad from his computer illiteracy; his son Bret, who filled Todd’s heart with joy by singing at home and leading worship at church; and his youngest son Logan, with whom Todd shared his sports enthusiasm as coach and spectator. Todd always expressed great pride in his children.
Experiencing this huge loss is Todd’s dear mother, Betty Lee Rawlings; his sister Kim and husband Allen Staggs and their children Jeremy, Justin, and Amanda; his brother Robbie and wife Margie and their children Josiah, Abby, and Hannah; his sister Tonya and husband Rodney Mayhew and their children Matthew and Brittney; and his sister Teresa and husband Shane Hines and their children Tanner, Joselyn, Jackson, and Ashlyn.
Todd’s story starts on August 2, 1961, the second of six children, son to William Marshall and Betty Lee (Wertman) Rawlings. He was born in Keyser, WV, where he would spend his childhood, grow up, and make many lifelong friends.
Todd loved God. His passion was to serve God. And he did. After graduating from Keyser High School in 1979. Todd attended Alderson Broaddus College to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Studies. While there, one of his professors noted Todd's spirtual hunger and encouraged him to speak at a small local church in Philippi, WV. This experience revealed Todd’s natural pastoral college, he planted a church in New Creek, WV. Shekinah Christian Church. He immersed himself in his community, working with low-income and homeless individuals to see them trained and employed. His heart ached for the city’s foster children, so Todd also served at Burlington Family Services.
It was 1991. Todd made a significant and difficult move away from family and friends. He followed God’s call and continued his education at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, earning a Masters of Theology and Business Management.
Little did Todd know his move to Virginia would begin one of his most adventurous journeys with Jesus. He was about to meet the love of his life, a vivacious young lady who was as much in love with Jesus as he was. Todd married Rena Gaye Butler from Calvert City, KY, in 1994. They spend many hardworking years managing several businesses, serving together in ministry, and most importantly, raising four outstanding children, all of whom are Christ-serving young adults. Can you just see Todd brimming with pride?
There was nothing pretentious about Todd. Transparent and pleasantly simple. Todd was renowned for his deep-frying food skills and splattering grease everywhere. Multiple mounted deer heads in the living room display his hunting prowess. Three published books, with a fourth in process, illustrate Todd’s clever craft at wordsmithing. He loved cars, Duke basketball, eating butter, and collecting stuff...lots of stuff! He equally disliked technology, drinking water, and the Tarheels.
Todd wore many hats. Teacher, mentor, athletic coach, business entrepreneur, car salesman, and radio host. The last chapter of Todd’s story includes his magnificent passion as senior pastor of New Life Virginia Beach. Fourteen full years of mentoring and teaching, discipling and preaching. He loved his church body, describing them as “the most amazing people on the face of the earth.” Certainly, his quick wit kept his congregation rolling in laughter because he could find humor in the most ordinary of life circumstances. His true pastoral strength emanated from his undying devotion to the Word of God. That legacy lives on.
Loved ones that cleared the path in Heaven for Todd are his father Marshall, and younger brother, Ricky. Without a doubt, the three are making noise in Heaven, praising God. An amazing truth!
Loved ones that will miss Todd until they meet again in Heaven are his faithful wife, Rena; his sweet joy who will “always be my little girl” Alexis Millhouse (husband Cooper), his first-born son Ricky, who continually rescued his dad from his computer illiteracy; his son Bret, who filled Todd’s heart with joy by singing at home and leading worship at church; and his youngest son Logan, with whom Todd shared his sports enthusiasm as coach and spectator. Todd always expressed great pride in his children.
Experiencing this huge loss is Todd’s dear mother, Betty Lee Rawlings; his sister Kim and husband Allen Staggs and their children Jeremy, Justin, and Amanda; his brother Robbie and wife Margie and their children Josiah, Abby, and Hannah; his sister Tonya and husband Rodney Mayhew and their children Matthew and Brittney; and his sister Teresa and husband Shane Hines and their children Tanner, Joselyn, Jackson, and Ashlyn.