Lorraine Cloer Jernigan was born on Wednesday, July 10, 1946, in Murphy, North Carolina to Leila Fleming Cloer and Charles Ralph Cloer of Hiawasee, Georgia. Lorraine passed away after a 20-year battle with kidney disease on Sunday, October 8, 2023.

She is survived by her husband, Richard, and three siblings: brother Roy (Brenda) Cloer, of Cullowhee, NC; sister, Helen Monseur of Wilkes-Barre, PA; and sister, Betty Hall of Woodstock, GA.

Lorraine was a 1964 graduate of Towns County High School. She graduated from Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, GA and Belmont University in Nashville, TN with a degree in psychology. She received her Master's of Divinity Degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

After graduating from Belmont University, Lorraine began work with the Georgia Department of Family and Children's Service, where she worked for 32 years. Completing her career as a special investigator with the Investigative Services Department for DFCS.

Upon retirement from DFCS, Lorraine graduated from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with the intent to follow God's calling to serve in ministry in Brevard, NC. Blessed with a lovely soprano voice, Lorraine sang in choirs in college and churches throughout her life. She was also on the staff at Glady Branch Baptist Church in Brevard, NC. After several years working in leadership training, administration, and preaching, Lorraine fell ill with Minimal Change Disease, where upon she needed to completely retire. She continued to teach on Sunday mornings, still battling her disease. She became very ill in May of 2023 and was hospitalized until her passing.

Lorraine was a quiet soul with a strong listening ear, who conveyed a compassionate care for everyone in her presence. She was an attractive person with a creative spirit for sharing God's love to all persons. She was very much a people person at heart, with a delightful sense of humor.

Kind, sweet, and caring were some of the words people used to describe Lorraine. Her love and devotion to Jesus Christ always showed through her words and actions.

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Woodstock on Thursday, October 26th at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Kidney Fund , the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Association