“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” II Timothy 4:7
Theotha Lane was born the ninth of eleven children on August 15, 1947 to the late Marion and Francis Lane Sr. in Inverness, Mississippi. He accepted Christ at an early age at Holy Grove Church under the leadership of Rev. Lee Hazelwood and attended Gentry Elementary School before relocating to Chicago, Illinois where he graduated from John Marshall High School. On August 29, 1977,
Theotha was united in holy matrimony to Mary Byest through this union they were blessed with a daughter, Mary Francis. They shared 41 years of marriage, with this beautiful union they blended 6 additional children Abigail, Verleaner, Leslie, Dwayne, Camille and Tommy.
Theotha attended Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor W.L. Upshire where he served faithfully as a choir member with the Male Choir, until the retirement of his pastor in 2009. He later joined Everlasting Love Outreach Ministry under the leadership of Apostle Larry Tabron, Jr., where he faithfully served as a deacon and chairman until his transition.
Theotha had an extensive work history which included working for Dan Noonan at Courtesy Food, Daniel’s Country and Johnnie’s. He also worked for General Motors until the plant closed at which time he began working for Leonard Harris at Chatham Foods. He later worked at County Fair where he retired as a Produce Manager.
Theotha had an entrepreneur spirit and owned a grocery store on the westside of Chicago, created “Honey Do” Delivery Services and was known as DJ “Hangout Daddy” on the west and south sides of Chicago for over 30 years. He enjoyed being a Precinct Captain in the 16th Ward and had a heart for service and a love for people. He enjoyed singing songs by The Canton Spirituals and The Williams Brothers and was an avant gardener with a beautiful green thumb.
Theotha (aka Rooster) loved playing double fifteen dominoes with his brother Arthur (aka Coon) and brother-in-law Eldridge (aka Dog) for hours and could often be heard saying, “If you don’t know how to count, don’t sit down!” God decided for all of his wonderful works, that he had ran a good race and it was time for him to receive his wings on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 8:20 A.M. He was welcomed into heaven by his sisters Sara, Beulah, Carrie, Susie and Mae Emma and his brothers, Marion Jr., Jimmy, Clinton and Louis, along with his granddaughter Brianna Jenkins and grandson Dwayne Jones Jr..
Theotha leaves to cherish his memories his seven children Abigail (Elliot) Lagrone, Verleaner Lane, Dwayne (Adela) Jones, Camille Lane, Mary F. Lane- Jenkins, Leslie Harris and Tommy Harris, his two brothers Arthur (Margie) Lane, Rev. Leonard (Amy) Lane, his brothers-in-law Eldridge Glover, Kenneth (Loretta) Byest and sisters-in-laws LaVern Lane, Carolyn Lane, Linda Lane, Linda (Saul) Nutall, Odean Burks, Bobbie (Zeb) Hinds. He will be greatly missed by his twelve grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, godson Renaldo Moore, a special daughter TiChina Barrett, a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends and his dog Rusty.
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