Orlanders Looney was born January 22, 1953 to Orlanders and Romiestine Looney in Memphis, Tennessee. He was the second oldest of 3 boys including the Carl and Ronald Looney. He was lovingly nicknamed Butch and known to most of his family and friends as such. Orlanders demonstrated a love and gifting in football at a young age. He participated in youth football and was a star athlete at Northwestern High School where he graduated in 1971. His sportsmanship earned him a full football scholarship to Tuskegee University. He graduated from Tuskegee with a degree in Architectural Engineering and began work in Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee and Miami. Orlanders designed many local businesses, houses of worship and one of his most famous designs is the beautiful Fayette County High School where his Son Daniel Grimes-Looney and grandchildren Aaron and Adria Miller would graduate some decades later. Orlanders was a Master Architech and had the ability to create renderings in detail by hand that some could only create in digital format. This was his genius.

Orlanders loved people, even the ones no one else wanted to take up time with. He often used his resources to help others launch their businesses or provided them with housing while they got on their feet. He was a strong believer that you should give yourself a hand up and not look for hand outs and that people should be willing to invest in themselves before expecting others to. He was a man’s man and set high expectations from the men in his family and the community. He wasn’t ashamed to tell them to get it together because they were Kings. But he was hard the girls too, he would spoil us to pizza parties or put money in our purses but tell us ok when that’s gone that’s all you get so spend it wisely or save it. 

Orlanders enjoyed real estate, car restoration and sales and was open to new business ideas, something that he inherited coming from a family of entrepreneurs. He loved to travel and engage others to new experiences and cultures. He also loved reading books and learning new things. He was serious about education and encouraged all his family to both pursue higher education and to learn a trade or two. 

Orlanders spent his latter days enjoying time with friends, family and his extended family at Southland Rehabilitation, singing and praying for others. Orlanders grew up in church and rededicated his life to the Lord in 2016. He enjoyed attending services at World Changers Church International under the Leadership of Creflo Dollar with his family. Some of our fondest moments include hearing him sing praise and worship, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Temptations  and Anita Baker songs. He always maintained a healthy appetite for good food and fellowship with others. Sometimes he would say “I can’t wait to see those guys!!!” When asked "What guys?" He would say “My Mom, Carl and Ronnie” at first, we use to remind him that they were in heaven already and that we needed him to wait to see them. But now his wait is over and he’s reunited with his parents and siblings. 

Orlanders leaves to his memory his Son Daniel Grimes-Looney, Daughters Christina Miller, Tywla Hatcher and Teshuwah Price, Grandchildren Whitney Hatcher, Aaron Miller and Adria Miller and a host of family and friends. So it’s goodbye for now. We miss you, we love you, honor and salute you on your Graduation to Heaven.

We are all feeling the natural part of losing a loved one. But from Heaven’s view it is a glorious day. For to be absent from the Body is to be present with the Lord. Orlanders made the right choice while he was alive to seal his eternity with God. It was an honor and privilege for God to allow us to witness that. But it’s not only for him, It is the one choice we all must make if we want to see heaven and our loved ones gone before us again. If your uncertain about what would happen if you died today would you pray this prayer of salvation with me. 

Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). I am calling on You. I pray and ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life according to Romans 10:9-10: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." I do that now. I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead.

I am now reborn! I am a Christian—a child of Almighty God! I am saved! You also said in Your Word, "If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: HOW MUCH MORE shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13). I’m also asking You to fill me with the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, rise up within me as I praise God. I fully expect to receive your gift  (Acts 2:4). In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

May God Be With You and Your Loved ones for comfort, peace, provision and strength. 

With Sincerest Love and Gratitude

 
From The Family