OBSERVER STAFF REPORT

One of Sacramento’s beloved community activists was laid to rest last month. Clyde Rainwater was interred at Odd Fellows Lawn on Riverside Boulevard after a funeral service was held at Antioch Progressive Baptist Church in South Sacramento.

Clyde Rainwater was a leader and an outspoken community activist in Sacramento’s African American community. He passed away on Sept. 19. Photo (c) Observer / File

Eulogized by St. Andrew’s A.M.E. pastor Benjamin Hollins, the acknowledgments and resolutions were provided by Aliane Hassan. Oliver Stevenson, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge James Long, and OBSERVER publisher Dr. William H. Lee delivered the remembrances. Michael Mayse, Jr, shared the family’s expressions.

Clyde Weldon Rainwater was born in Slaton, Texas on June 8, 1937, and was called home on Sept. 19. He graduated from Grant High School, American River College and the University of California at Berkeley. He was an outstanding athlete excelling in football, basketball and track.

His career included counselor at California Youth Authority, deputy director of the Northern California Job Corps, president of United Manpower Consortium, and the first chief of Affirmative Action for the County of Sacramento. While at the county, Rainwater convinced the Board of Supervisors to sue the District Attorney to correct unfair hiring practices. The suit was appealed to the Supreme Court and resulted in outreach to and hiring of African American attorneys.

As president of United Scientific Management Consultants, he provided services to law enforcement agencies including the Sacramento Police Department, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Attorneys Task Force for civil rights and the California Department of Corrections Joint Venture Program.

An avid activist and social policy expert, he was a life member of the Sacramento Branch NAACP, legal redress chairman and first vie president and founding president of the Sacramento Economic Empowerment Congress, which sponsored the Thousand Man March. He attended the Million Man March in Washington, D.C.

He received many awards for his leadership and fearlessness for tackling social policy issues including the NAACP Distinguished Service Award in 1975, a Certificate of Recognition by the Association of Black Correctional Workers, the Bayard Rustin Award from the Lamda Center, a “Gracias-Trophy” from the Cinco de Mayo Committee, Senate Resolution from the Honorable Bill Greene, and the Leave No Child Behind Education Forum in 2000.

Rainwater served two terms on the Sacramento City/County Human Rights Commission and attended the First FBI Citizens Academy in 2004. He was a vice president of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce.

As a political columnist for The Sacramento OBSERVER Newspapers, he interviewed Coretta Scott King, Bishop Tutu of South Africa, Jesse Jackson and other well-known politicians.

He was also president of Sacramento Montessori.

Rainwater was preceded in death by his father, Joe Rainwater and mother, Ruby Lee Edwards; sisters Ruby Jewell Marshall and Dorothy Lee Rainwater-Williams; brother Darwin Edwards and son, Cory Rainwater.

He is survived by his loving wife, Helen; sons Vaught Rainwater, Eason Ramson (Rainwater) and stepson Dennis Williams, Jr.; daughters Belinda Rainwater-Mayse, Glenda Sharece Rainwater and stepdaughter Crystal Williams; sisters Mary-Jo Ali and Sharon Edwards. His grandchildren included Rainwater, Jr. (Raquel), Candice Newman (Charles), Wesley, Isaiah and Freddie Gilbert, Jr., Michael Mayse, Jr., Joshua, Eason, Jr. and Taylor Ramson, Raquel Williams and Jessica Graham.

His great grandchildren included Kianna and Camren Newman, Maliki Gilbert and Karahlynn Rainwater. He also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.