Keith Rawlins, Trustee of Trinity Church

Keith W. Rawlins Jr. was born August 11, 1926 in Boston and died on June 14, 2013 at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was the first of four children born to Keith W. and Mabel (Wortham) Rawlins. He grew up in Cambridge attending the Roberts Elementary School and Rindge Technical High School. His extensive higher education began at Central State College in Ohio, where he earned a bachelor of science in social work. He earned a master’s in social work at Boston University. His work at University of Massachusetts was (ABD) in Higher Education Administration. He also attended the Episcopal Divinity School pursuing ordination to the priesthood.

His social work career took him into many communities as well as service in the public and private sectors. He served as director of the West Medford Community Center, the Cambridge Community Center, the Episcopal Church Home Society, the Protestant Social Service Bureau, the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare and Nazarene College. He held the position of director of social work for the Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center, the Roxbury Court Clinic and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health in Danvers. In all of these positions, Keith often said that the West Medford Community Center, his first job, was the best job he ever had. In that position he influenced many youngsters who have remembered him over the years.

Early in his career, among other organizations, Keith participated in the Union of Black Episcopalians, the Episcopal Church’s Commission on Ministry, the National Association of Social Workers, The Association of Public Welfare Workers and Kiwanis of Quincy.

Keith had almost a lifelong involvement with the Episcopal Church. Early on at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge, he was involved with the vestry, training the acolytes, and was a lay eucharistic minister. In Medford he was a member of the vestry at Grace Episcopal Church. In Hingham he was a lay eucharistic minister at St. John the Evangelist, served on the vestry and trained acolytes. At Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven he was a member of the vestry, served as a lay eucharistic minister and participated in the training of the acolytes. He was a trustee of Trinity Episcopal Church in Oak Bluffs for over 35 years, from 1982 to 2010. At least five of those years he served as warden.

Keith and his family first began to summer on the Vineyard in 1965 and moved to Oak Bluffs permanently in 1993. Always active as a volunteer, even though his health was failing, Keith spent his last 20 years mentoring youngsters at the Oak Bluffs School and young men of color at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

Keith had great love for his family and friends and is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Elizabeth B. (Miller), a son, Paul H. Rawlins, a daughter, Pattie E. Rawlins, two grandchildren, Sharisse Scott-Rawlins and Keith Scott-Rawlins, and nieces and nephew, Christle Rawlins-Jackson, Leslie Gallagher and Allison and John Gallagher. He also leaves a host of other relatives and friends, including Marie Jackson, Shirley Rice and Jacqueline Taylor, all of Medford.

The funeral service was held in June at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Cambridge. On August 10 there will be a memorial service held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Oak Bluffs (across from the Steamship Authority). The service will begin at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Trinity Episcopal Church: P.O. Box 2147, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, or to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services: 111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 in recognition of his contributions to the work of these organizations.

Marie Allen, Oak Bluffs

I remember Keith Rawlins as a consummate gentleman, always friendly and in good spirits. He'll certainly be missed by many.

July 26, 2013 - 8:49am

Rev. Deacon Sidney S. Blake & Dr. Philip Spivey, Harlem, NY -St. Philip's Episcopal Church

Mr. Rawlins is a fine example of Christian service to all. His quiet gentle manner was accompanied by his enthusiasm and interest in other people. We always looked forward to visiting with him and Doctor Betty at Trinity on our annual Vineyard vacations. Rest In Peace and may Light Perpetual shine upon your soul! AMEN.

August 4, 2013 - 11:01am

David allen Parry, Los angeles

Keith Rawlins was the father to me, caring likej no one ever did when i was a boy, twelve, without a dad at home, and helplessly aimless in the alley ways of Boston. Then, I was miraculously rescued by Mr Keith Rawlins,MSW, the selfless church social worker my mother called in desperation to help me, as she born her 4th child, her ist now with her second husband who was i'il with tuburculosis and alcohol, but whom she laughed and cried with, and loved deeply for countless decades. I had,hoped and failingly searched this past year to locate Mr Rawlins and see him this summer after some fifty years patching my life to move forward, with and for those dear to me, especially my loving family and students. It was my one last searching hope, a soundless dream to sit with him and experience calmness and wisdom, with the penetrating protection of deep friendship. When he and the church home society took me under their wing as a troubled abandoned child i learned how to be a part of this world for the first time, and discovered a will to learn, to believe in myself, my future, and in essence to fly with a new feeling of specialness of self, a child with all the magic wind and air of life around me. There can be, for me, no greater soul giving selflessly on this planet,than Keith Rawlins, and now resonating for me, and undoubedly for others in this all of a sudden expanding universe. I will forever be dedicated to helping others, especially those in need of kindness and friendship. it is the single reason i became an educational documentary filmmaker, thanks to this genderless man who arrived unannounced outside of my struggling mothers single parenthood endless days,who helped me see hope in myself and others. He was my father, and because of Keith Rawlins i went on to become a university professor, to,make films to lift up the abandoned pieces in our society, communities, children and parents who care about us all as family. We are ascending and descending, but always standing with the long view of hope thanks to Keith Rawlins, MSW; a giant of a giver and caring friend and father to all. I will forever miss you dearest Keith.

August 13, 2013 - 3:59am

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Keith Rawlins, Trustee of Trinity Church

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