Christopher Rankin, 77, of Cartersville, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, and 2 sisters. Family left to cherish his memory include his wife, Betty Myers; children, Michelle (Jo), Christine (Sandy), David, Duane, and Jesse; stepdaughter, Malina (Aaron); 7 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; sister, Martha Rowen; and many extended family members and friends.
Christopher was a Navy veteran, proudly serving his country from 1963 to 1967. He was a community activist, mentor, and ultimate fixer of things. He was an avid square and round dancer and member of Shenandoah Miata Travelers.
A Celebration of Christopher’s Life will be held from 11-1 pm on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at Affinity Funeral Service, 2720 Enterprise Parkway, Richmond, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cumberland Co. Landfill Alert (CCLA), at PO Box 238, Cumberland, VA 23040 or via PayPal at lovecentralVA.com.
You’ll be missed by many who’ve had the pleasure of your company on and off the dance floor, Rest in Peace.
Frenchie and Sook
Chris will be dearly missed. We loved dancing with him. We loved laughing with him. He was a dear friend. Praying for peace and comfort for Betty and the family.
He was a special person, loved and respected by many. Go on peace.
Until we meet again …love you brother
I got to know Chris in 2018, 42 years my senior. I moved to Cumberland, co. Built a house and unknowingly planned to live in the shadow of the proposed mega landfill. Chris and I had many adventures together, we hiked through the forest and found historical minority gravesites, both African American slave and Native American. I called us the minutemen, because in that situation we threw wrenches in the bicycle spokes of corporate greed and racist tyranny. We were the ‘buttercream gang’, together with a few others in the community, helping preserve local history, giving to the less fortunate and helping with fundraisers to stop the landfill in our neighborhood. Chris is a guy I will always cherish as a friend, a neighbor, a philanthropist, a tradesman and I know despite whatever his personal beliefs may have been; he’s showing off his moves, dancing in the throne room wearing many crowns. Chris Rankin isn’t dead, he’ll never die in my heart and mind; his spirit is one I plan on admiring and thinking back fondly on for the rest of my life. Thanks for being a great human being, thanks for being a good friend, thanks for always remembering to live like everyone is important.
You will be missed
Chris was a good, hardworking decent man. For close to four years we met weekly to fight the proposed mega landfill slated to be built in Cumberland. He was always positive and Chris wanted the best for Cumberland. He will be sorely missed. We will all be together again some day.
Your sister misses you, Chris, but I know that you have taken your fine qualities of honesty, humor, intelligent common sense on with you to make the happy world you’ve gone to even happier.
Chris was such a wonderful soul who will be missed by all who knew him. Sally and my thoughts of him are filled with many smiles for having known him and sadness that he is no longer with us. As has been said, he will live on through the many he touched with memories of his happy smile, laughter and twinkle in his eye, as well as his hard working and positive nature. What more can a person ask for in a life? Cheers Chris! Your time on earth made this world a little better place for us all.
Chris candle is still lite for the great help, assistance given to both Tom and I. Thanks for being in our lives. God bless. Prayers are extended to all.