Anita Hamm Rakestraw, 63
September 2, 1961 – July 27, 2025
Anita Hamm Rakestraw, age 63, departed this life on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at her residence in the Blue Springs community, surrounded by the familiar comforts of the home she so lovingly built.
A time of remembrance and celebration will be held from 4 PM to 8 PM on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in the Memory Chapel of New Albany Funeral and Cremation Care, where family and friends will gather to honor Mrs. Anita’s beautiful life and reflect on the countless memories shared with such a remarkable woman.
Born on September 2, 1961, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Mrs. Anita was the cherished daughter of the late Luther and Elsie Smith Hamm. She received her education through the Belden Public School System and, at the young age of sixteen, married the love of her life, Mr. Homer Rakestraw, on February 11, 1978. Their nearly five-decade love story is a testament to commitment, perseverance, and the kind of quiet strength that carried them through every season of life.
Though she spent a short time working with Ellis Furniture, Mrs. Anita’s most treasured and enduring role was that of a devoted wife, loving mother, and the unwavering anchor of her home. She was the very heartbeat of the household—a woman whose hands were always busy but whose presence brought a sense of peace and belonging that words can hardly express. While Mr. Homer spent time on the road providing for the family, Mrs. Anita was the steady presence that kept everything in motion. She cared for their children, managed the home, and saw to every chore and task with quiet joy. From feeding the animals and keeping the yard pristine to gardening and preparing meals, she did it all—not out of obligation, but out of pure, selfless love.
A Christian and southern Baptist, Mrs. Anita’s house wasn’t just four walls—it was a haven, a place of warmth and welcome where love was felt in every room, every meal, and every detail. She delighted in the simple joys of life—beach trips to Panama City with family, watching her favorite Formula 1 races, as she was Michael Schumacher biggest fan, and tending to her beautiful flowers, especially white blooms and orchids. Above all, Anita’s greatest pride and lasting legacy was her family. Her unwavering devotion, strength of spirit, and nurturing soul will continue to live on in those she loved so fiercely.
Though she has departed from this earthly life, the home she made in the hearts of her family will never fade. Her kitchen table bore witness to heartfelt conversations, her garden bloomed with the same care she showed to those around her, and her presence made everyone feel safe, seen, and loved. The legacy she leaves is etched into every flower she planted, every meal she prepared, and every life she touched. She was the kind of woman who made life softer, love stronger, and home feel like the safest place on earth.
In addition to her husband of forty-seven years, Mr. Homer Rakestraw, memories will continue to be shared by two sons, William Rakestraw, and James Wesley “Wes” Rakestraw (Ashleigh), two sisters, Jean Davis and Teresa Rakestraw, one grandchild, Kiala Rakestraw, two sisters in laws, Betty Roberts and Kathryn Rakestraw, one brother-in-law, Curtis Wayne Rakestraw (Wanda), and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Anita was also preceded in death by a half-sister, Billie Fayne Grisham.
New Albany Funeral and Cremation Care invites you to share memories with Mrs. Anita’s family.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
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Gathering of Family and Friends
Wednesday
July 30, 2025
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Memory Chapel of New Albany Funeral and Cremation Care (West Bankhead)
