‘He was always your friend’: Deacon reacts to Macon pastor’s death

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A local pastor deemed a community staple died from COVID-19 complications.

Pastor Bryant Raines of The New Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Macon passed away in Gainesville, Florida this week. 

Deacon Andy Stroud calls Reverend Raines a visionary.  He says the pastor planned on opening a youth center and nursing home.

Stroud says the 44-year-old pastor had a big personality and wanted to serve the public any chance he got.

“His love for humankind was just built-in. He got a lot of the visions from his father and his father left some big footprints, he just widened the footprints, that’s all he did,” said Deacon Stroud. “His personality was so bold that it didn’t matter who you were. You were always his friend he was always your friend.”

Pastor Raines leaves behind his wife, Ilashia Raines.