Patricia Denise Pittman Raines

Denise Pittman Raines, 66, of Ellerbe passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2025 at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital Rockingham location after battling many years with her illness.

Denise was born on November 27, 1958 in Cabarrus County, NC to the late Boyd Franklin and Mary Lucille Brock Pittman. A member of Ellerbe Fellowship Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years.

Throughout her live, she enriched the minds of many children while teaching at Ellerbe Middle School and Rockingham Middle. She was a diligent worker for 18 years at Ellerbe Spring Hotel. In her later days, Denise decided to open her very own diner known as Denise’s Diner in Ellerbe, where she saw many of the patrons she taught as well as knew in the community.

Along with her parents, Denise is preceded in death by her brother Tommy Helms and sisters Barbara Lloyd and Irene Nichols.

She is survived by her husband, Jacky Raines, daughter Starr Raines (Bill Stewart), brothers Billy Joe Helms, Boyd F. “Frankie” Pittman, Jr., and Larry W. Pittman. Although she has left them, their memories of her will always remain in their hearts.

Funeral services for Denise will be held at Carter Funeral Home Ellerbe Chapel on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 2pm with Rev. Ricky Hughes officiating. Interment will be held at Ellerbe Cemetery following the service.

Family will receive friends from 12:45pm to 1:45pm on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at Carter Funeral Home in Ellerbe.