Pastor Calvin C. Wainright

Obituary On Monday, December 21, 1953, God allowed me, Calvin Carzell Wainright, to make my entrance into the world through the union of Alvin Joe and Marvine E. Wainright. I dedicated my life to Christ at an early age, not knowing that even then God was preparing this stubborn man to live a life of service and instilling in me the desire to see everyone happy and enjoying life to the fullest in the Lord. My passion for youth development dates as far back as to when I lived in the Wayne Miner Projects and was involved with the YMCA, Boy Scouts, Rotary Clubs, The Boys Club and Wayne Miner Sports Teams. I have always had that passion and I even tried to pass it on to my youngest brother, Vincent, when I forced him to coach a T-Ball team when he was only 10 years old! I matriculated through the Kansas City Public School District graduating from Manual High School in 1971. I later attended Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville, TX, Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO and Penn Valley Community College where I received my certification in Youth Development. My mother, uncles and coaches taught me the importance of giving back to my community and I truly believe that lead me to working for the organizations that were instrumental in my life and teaching me the real responsibilities of manhood. My work experience included the YMCA, Greater Kansas City Mental Health Foundation; Don Bosco Community Center; Minute Circle Friendly House; Kansas City Free Health Clinic and lastly, Greater Kansas City Local Investment Commission (LINC) where I was blessed to retire from in July of this year. I must share that the one organization that allowed me to be free to practice and to learn what God had predestined for me to do was Don Bosco under the leadership of Lou Rose. There I established the “We Hoop for Peace” basketball teams and programs. Little did I know that this would be more about ministry than basketball. It was about building up young men, giving them dreams and the desire to live and be successful, and encouraging them to understand that this life can be fun and easy if we work for the things we want. After 14 years of success, new management had another vision, and it was out with the old and in with the new. I was told “your 14 years here don’t mean a bowl of beans to me” and just like that my career ended at “Bosco”. Although it was painful, it stirred up the gift in me and I continued to pour into the lives of young boys and girls and served as a surrogate Dad for countless many. I always wanted to give to other young people what I had received as I was growing up, so I later founded the “Heaven Sent Hawks” where we taught countless youth the game of basketball and how to successfully compete. I only wish that I had been blessed with a “tag along”. When I was younger, I considered myself a tag along to Charles Parker and Gregory Westbrooks and I would have loved to have had someone who would come alongside me and commit to carrying the baton to love and develop today’s youth. Life happens and I was no exception to the rule. The trials and adversities of life occurred, and I hit a place that I had never been before. Little did I know that those very painful experiences would propel me to rededicate my FULL life to the Lord and my life became filled with joy. During this time, God sent me an angel in the form of “Ms. Sandy”. At the time, we had been friends for over 30 years and the idea of being a couple had NEVER crossed our minds. But God had another plan and on September 21, 2002, we united in marriage and were CCW until the end! We weren’t perfect people, but we were perfect for each other. One year later, God led us to found and serve as Pastors of Heaven Sent Outreach Ministries, where together we would work tirelessly to minister to and serve our community. I have humbly been the recipient of many awards, special recognitions and honors. Among those were the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association “Outstanding Volunteer Coach of the Year” Award; the Kansas City People’s Choice Awards “Humanitarian Award”; the “Hoodie” Award; LINC Employee of the Month; Fox 4’s “Pay It Forward” recipient and most recently in 2021, “The Legend Award” presented to me at the very first Calvin Wainright Basketball Classic. This memorable event was hosted by my friend and brother, Pat Clarke, and his family and was held at the historic Interscholastic League Fieldhouse where years before I competed in basketball during my high school years. On Monday, October 31, 2022 around 5:30 am, I knocked and the Lord welcomed me in! I was preceded in death by my mother, Marvine “Venus” Wainright; my fathers, Alvin Joe Wainright and Maurice E. King (biological); my siblings, Reginald Wainright and Regina Wainright-Hooks; my mother-in-love, Prophetess & Evangelist Earlene Davis; nephews, Monte Hooks and Brandon Ratcliff; niece, Andrea Hooks; and brother-in-love, Eric Davis. Although I will no longer physically be present, I leave cherished memories to my devoted wife, Pastor Cassandra “Ms. Sandy” Wainright; all of my blended family children, Lashun Patrice Bozeman, Calvon Carzell Wainright, Caleese Carzell Wainright, Ishmail Carzell Wainright, Amaad Carzell Wainright, Hassan Williams; Minister Tina Shenice Johnson, Kiana D’Nai (Donzell) Moore and Stephaun Donte’ Jackson; the one who says that he was my “first son and who I love as my own, Kenneth “Pooh” Oliver; my grandchildren, Aa’laiza Cole, Travon Johnson, Yasmine Johnson, E’majine Wainright, Bailey Adams, Zoey Jackson, Aa’ryn Moore, Amaya Bennett, Amaad Wainright Jr, Isabella Wainright, Kai Wainright, Stephaun Jackson Jr, Kaleigh Jackson and Milan Jackson; my siblings, Yasmine King Brown, Vanessa Wainright, Terrance Wainright, Armelia Wainright-Mason, Vincent Wainright, Maurice King III and Kimberly Crawford; my aunt, Thais “Tusi” Hill; my brothers and sisters-in-love, Gloria (Samuel) Shareef, Karla Jackson, Dana (Donald) Cannon, Andrea Brown, Leon Davis Jr, Vickie Richard and Myreon Davis; Elder LaTanya Cooper and Marcia Davis; my godmother, Patricia Ward; my godchildren, Rachael Cooper, Joshua Salinas and Nathaniel Salinas; my “Heaven Sent Hawks” Basketball Family, my forever “Bosco Boys” and a huge host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends A Memorial Service will be Saturday, November 12, 2022, 11:00am at Memorial Church International. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 11, 2022, from 6pm-8pm at the chapel. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pastor Calvin C. Wainright, please visit our floral store. Read More

Pastor Calvin C. Wainright

December 21, 1953 - October 31, 2022