Mark Raines

View Remembrance Video Florence, SC Mark Grey Raines, 57, of Florence, SC passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2015. He was born in Hartsville, SC on December 28, 1957. He was the son of the late Maurice Grey Rock Raines and Doris ONeal Jordan. He was the loving husband of 34 years to Chrisie Jones Raines. Mark attended Hartsville area schools before graduating from Hartsville High School in 1976. His days were spent playing Red Fox Sports, but his real passion was for Red Fox Baseball. Playing for Coach Jimmy White were some of the happiest and most memorable days of his life. He later attended Wofford College and Francis Marion University. Mark was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served a 2-year mission in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala where he helped the people with daily tasks such as burying the dead and serving food, along with sharing the Gospel. While most missionaries wear dark suits and ties, on his first day he was given blue jeans and hiking boots in order to survive and traverse the mountainous landscape. He cherished his time abroad, but was happy to return home to be with Chrisie and serve his church and community at a local level, teaching Sunday school and leading the Youth Program. Mark always had a love of sports. This translated perfectly when his two sons were old enough to play baseball. He imparted all of his wisdom and gave his time and energy to coach their respective teams, even though he enjoyed it more than they did. As the kids grew older he was always interested in their activities even if he knew little about them: from golf with Grey, tennis and soccer with Will, dance with Cadie, and the anything Melissa wanted to try. He cared and did everything he could to help them succeed. Besides baseball, his other real passion was driving racecars, specifically short track late model stock cars. Following in his fathers footsteps, he only raced to win with his most cherished victory coming in 1990 when he won the Southeast Division Championship. Mark moved to Florence in 1981 to join the family business with his father and grandmother. They distributed oil and owned and operated truck stops and convenient stores. But in 1988, Mark had the foresight and ambition to branch out into the hospitality industry. He began with one small hotel before moving on and joining other local hotel operations. This gave him the experience and knowledge to secure his first Marriott franchise. Since that first Courtyard in 1998, he, along with other family members and a great staff, have built that small company in what is now known as Raines Hospitality Inc. The company now owns and operates multiple hotel properties in Florence, SC and throughout the Southeastern United States. Above all else Mark was an amazing husband and father. In 1981, he married his high school sweetheart and together they had four children: Grey (Ginnie), Will (Kristi), and Cadie (Jameson) Snead, all of Florence; and Melissa of Chapel Hill, NC. He has one granddaughter Gracie Raines and was looking forward to two grandsons in the next 6 months. He also had one brother David, of Florence; and one sister Kim (Jamie) Snipes, of McBee; along with several nieces and nephews. Many people loved Mark, including his in-laws and several close friends who became his family. Funeral services will be held at 3 pm on Wednesday December 9, 2015 at Norton Funeral Home with visitation prior to the funeral service at 1:30 pm. A private burial will follow. Memorial donations may be made to the Southeastern Baseball Classic, 3568 North Center Road, Hartsville, SC 29550 or Medical University of SC Foundation(MUSCF), earmarked pulmonary or rheumatology, 18 Bee St, MSC 450, Charleston,SC 29425 for memorials. Norton Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Raines family. www.nortonfh.net