Pastor Etta I Rife

Etta Inez Rife (Davis) was born on January 24, 1930 in St. Louis, MO to the union of William and Nellie Etta Davis (Nelson); they had two children, Gloria and Etta.

Etta was educated in the St. Louis Public School system and graduated from Vashon High School. After high school she attended the Washington School of Nursing. She worked in the nursing field for many years until her retirement.

Etta as she was affectionately known confessed her faith in Christ at an early age and was a soldier for the Lord. She was an ordained minister for over fifty years and founder of several churches in both the St. Louis and Des Moines areas. She loved preaching and teaching the word of God. She lived the life she loved, serving God and saving souls. Pastor Etta was under the leadership of Pastor Dr. H.I. Thomas of Union Missionary Baptist Church of Des Moines. She loved singing but only gospel. Etta was the lead singer and founder of the Christland Singers Gospel Group; out of which originated through her daughter Carolyn Weston, the Christland Angels, Christland Juniors and Christland Angel Production, all under the umbrella of Christland Nation, which are still in existence to date.

In 1988, Etta married the love of her life, James Rife. Etta was blessed with six children, Carolyn, Donald, Keith, Gerald, Keisha and KeyKey; of the six Etta and James raised the youngest two together. Etta was the matriarch of six generations.

On August 3, 2015 Etta answered the Master's call, stepping from time into eternity. Etta was 85 years old. Waiting to welcome Etta home were here parents, William and Nellie Davis; her son, Donald Davis; her sister, Gloria Moses; her grandchildren, Roland Moses, Kevin Rankin, Wendell Baker, DeShawn Kelly, Kevin Harris and her twin great grandchildren James and Riley Taylor.

Left to cherish the mighty memory of Etta is her loving husband, James; her children, Carolyn (Rocky) Weston, Keith (Norvella) Rankin, Gerald (Maggie) Rankin, Keisha (Corey) Rankin and Keith "KeyKey" Scott; her two special nieces, Angela Washington and Pamela Moses; along with a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends, whom all loved her dearly.







Cemetery Details Glendale Cemetery

IA,



Visitation

AUG 9. 02:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Henderson's Highland Park Funeral Home

3500 Sixth Avenue

Des Moines, IA, US, 50313



info@hendersonhighlandparkfuneralhome.com

http://www.hendersonhighlandparkfuneralhome.com Funeral Service

AUG 10. 12:00 PM

Union Baptist Church

East University and McCormick

Des Moines, IA, US