Jeanetta Mae Layne

Jeanetta Mae Layne was born on January 8, 1930 in Wellsburg, West Virginia to Ida Mae Padgett Henderson and John E. Henderson. She was raised in Wayland, Kentucky and Pikeville, Kentucky. She graduated from Perry A. Cline High School in Pikeville. Jeanetta completed cosmetology school in Dayton, Ohio and practiced as a licensed cosmetologist in Ohio until 1990. She married Elmer T. Layne of Pikeville, Kentucky and from this union they parented seven children in Columbus, Ohio. She instilled upon her children the utmost importance of having a relationship with God and salvation. Her love for her children was immeasurable. She expressed her love with warm hugs, nursing wounded feelings and knees, preparing three meals per day (every day), maintaining a clean and safe home, and more importantly, she told them she loved them. She insisted they obtain education and pursue careers that they would enjoy and that would provide them a means of being self-sufficient. She was always encouraging. When something was hard and her child wanted to give up or take an easier path, she would encourage them to continue on because nothing good comes easy and “you cannot run from things because they are hard.” She excitedly continued her motherly love and advice with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Throughout her life she often spoke of the joys of her childhood and growing up. She cherished her memories of her parents, John and Ida Henderson, her Aunt Wilmus who stood in the gap for her maternal grandmother when she passed at an early age, her dear siblings whom she loved and protected in infinite ways, and the many family, friends and neighbors who contributed to her growth, development and character. When she spoke of difficult times she experienced that would cause others to give up, she emphasized the collateral beauty of the experience and that there was always something to be thankful for or to learn from. Jeanetta was gifted with discernment and could perceive someone’s character after one conversation (and sometimes even after one look). She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. She had many interests and hobbies. She loved flowers, plants and gardening. She was an avid reader and writer, writing many gospel tracts, essays and papers over the years which she generously shared with others. She enjoyed quilting and painting, which she meticulously crafted with love as inspired by her childhood and family experiences. Jeanetta loved to sing and when she was younger, actually recorded one song while broadcasting on the local radio station in Pikeville. Later in life, she wrote two gospel songs and published one poem entitled “God is in Control” in 1997. What Jeanetta would want us to remember most and be inspired by is her journey and relationship with God. She received Jesus Christ as her savior at the age of 13 and was baptized in the Big Sandy River in Kentucky. Living in Columbus, Ohio, she was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in the Church of God in Christ at 33 years of age. Jeanetta, being called of God in 1963, founded and pastored The East Eighteenth Avenue Prayer and Bible Mission, where she is fondly referred to as “Pastor Layne” or “Sister Layne”. At the time she founded the Prayer and Bible Mission, she was one of a few African American women ordained as a minister. Because of that and her devotion to God and her community, she served as a role model to other African American women and men to serve Christ in the ministry. In one of the many inspirational papers she shared, “The Holy Ghost is a gift, and God was letting me know I needed this gift for power in my Christian life and power to witness to others!” She knew her purpose was to break the cycle of poverty both earthly and spiritually in her community through this charge, many were saved, healed, delivered and set from free from oppression. This freedom helped many return to school to further their education, break dependence on welfare, obtain better job opportunities, purchase homes and become witnesses to their family and relations. She also wrote in one of her essays/sermons, “I’ve seen many miracles, many souls cleaned and set free by the Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I’m so glad to be that part God allowed me to be.” She continued her ministry until God relieved her of her earthly duties. Our beloved Jeanetta passed away on December 29, 2019, at the age of 89. She is preceded in death by parents, John E. and Ida M. Henderson; husband, Elmer T. Layne; son, John W. Layne; brother, John Henderson; and sister, Avenel Lee. Those left to cherish her memory are: her sons, Larry Layne, Randall (Rhonda) Layne, Victor (Brenda) Layne and Robert Layne; daughters, Wanda Layne and Sondra Barbour; Brother Clarence (Lady) Henderson; sisters, Geraldine Gywnn, Mary (Cecil) Price and Georgia (Willie) McClendon; in laws, Robert (Linda) Layne and Stafford (Carol) Layne, Louise Layne, and Faustina Bails; grandsons, George B. Barbour, Victor Layne II, Thomas (Christy) Layne, and Vincent Layne; granddaughters Bailey and Shannon Barbour; great-grandchildren Theon and Kami Layne; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.