William E. "Billy" Raines, 73, of Blythewood, widower of Carolyn Kelly Raines, died Sunday, January 31, 2016. Born April 4, 1942 in Blythewood, SC, he was a son of the late Ernest E. Raines and Mary Ellen "Polly" Raines. A lifelong resident of Blythewood, Billy was a charter member of the Blythewood Volunteer Fire Department and he and his wife, Carolyn, started the Blythewood Christmas Parade where he was known as "Santa Claus". Billy retired from Bowater Timber Co., worked with the Town of Blythewood, and was the founder of the Brass Ass Mule Farm where he cared for many animals including a monkey, raccoons, squirrels, an owl and numerous mules, donkeys and burros. Mr. Raines was a member of the Blythewood Masonic Lodge Number 395 and Sandy Level Baptist Church. He served in the SC Army National Guard and was deeply loved by his family and community.

Survivors include two sons, Michael (Kim) Raines and Brian (Donna) Raines; a daughter, Cara (Jerry) Kaiser; six grandchildren, Megan (Darren) Foxon, Rebekah, Bobby, Austin, Kinsey, and Kate; one great-granddaughter, Kalyn; a brother, Jimmy (Lynette) Raines; a sister, Mary Ellen Doble; and a brother-in-law, Edward Cooper. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a sister, Jacqueline "Jackie" Cooper.

The funeral service for Mr. Raines will be held 3 o'clock, Wednesday, February 3rd, at Sandy Level Baptist Church, 408 Blythewood Road, with The Rev. Chris Hanley and The Rev. Dr. E. Benjamin Newman Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 1 o'clock. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lupus Foundation of SC, P.O. Box 1427, Easley, SC 29641, or Sandy Level Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 518, Blythewood, SC 29016.