Obituary for Mary Christine Gaines
Mary Gaines of Detroit, Michigan was born in Wilmington, NC on August 19, 1921
to Benjamin and Carrie (Taylor) Wright, grand daughter of John and Lida Taylor. Mary
transitioned this life to her eternal life with God on January 17, 2021 while surrounded by
her two sons Homer and Edward Gaines along with other family members.
Mary relocated to Detroit in 1949 where she met Edward Gaines Sr. Mary and Ed
Gaines were joined in Holy Matrimony in July 1951 and from this union had two sons,
Homer and Edward. The late Edward Gaines, Sr. her loving and devoted husband predeceased
her in 1973. Mary was preceded in death by 2 sisters Evelyn, Josephine, brother
Benjamin and great grandson Jordan. At age 99, Mary was the eldest living descendent of
enslaved Henry Taylor, her great grandfather of Wilmington, North Carolina. Of her five
siblings, she leaves behind Barbara Taylor Wright -Wright, age 97 of NJ cherished sisters,
they talked each and every day.
Mary, a woman of faith, belonged to Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church North
Carolina’s oldest African- American Presbyterian Church. It is where her ancestors Henry,
John and her parents also attended. Mary received her B.S. Education degree from St.
Augustine Episcopal College, one of the nation’s historically black institutions of higher
learning in Raleigh, NC. Mary ultimately converted and became a devoted Episcopalian
while at St Augustine. Mary put her educational background to good use with young minds,
as the Director of St. Johns Presbyterian Church Day Care for 16 years.
Mary loved reading and doing word searches along with passing time by crocheting
taught to her by her mother. She particularly enjoyed crocheting later in life with her
“adopted” daughter Bernadette Rosser Boseman. It brought her many nights of comfort
from the blankets they made for various churches and organizations.
Now joining our beloved father, Mom is survived by our families: Edward Darnell,
Homer T. Gaines, Sr. (Ellen), Edward L. Gaines, Jr. (Camellia), five grandsons, Glen
Darnell, Gary Darnell, Homer T. Gaines Jr. (Tami), Jason M. Gaines (Amber), Edward L.
Gaines III (Natasha} and one grand-daughter Margaret C. Gaines (Nathan ), eight great
grand-daughters: Zoe R. Gaines, Nia Gaines, Laney Gaines, Saige Wilson, Mackenzie
Clemons, Isabella Gaines, Victoria Gaines, Anastasia Gaines and three great grand-sons.
Jason Gaines, Edward L. Gaines IV and Savoy “Sanjay” Gaines. Other relatives include six
nieces and two nephews, 4 great nephews and 5 great nieces, and host of other relatives that
admired their Aunt Mary.
Special acknowledgements to Robert and Jackie Dunlap, Juanita Gaines, Alex and
Bernadette Boseman, Kathy Williams, Stephanie Berry and numerous friends and family
members.
In lieu of flowers consider donating to St Augustine College in Raleigh, North
Carolina, Christ Church Detroit 960 East Jefferson Ave Detroit, MI 48207. And, please
visit www.jameshcole.com to share a special memory about Mary (Mom) or to sign our online
guest book.
to Benjamin and Carrie (Taylor) Wright, grand daughter of John and Lida Taylor. Mary
transitioned this life to her eternal life with God on January 17, 2021 while surrounded by
her two sons Homer and Edward Gaines along with other family members.
Mary relocated to Detroit in 1949 where she met Edward Gaines Sr. Mary and Ed
Gaines were joined in Holy Matrimony in July 1951 and from this union had two sons,
Homer and Edward. The late Edward Gaines, Sr. her loving and devoted husband predeceased
her in 1973. Mary was preceded in death by 2 sisters Evelyn, Josephine, brother
Benjamin and great grandson Jordan. At age 99, Mary was the eldest living descendent of
enslaved Henry Taylor, her great grandfather of Wilmington, North Carolina. Of her five
siblings, she leaves behind Barbara Taylor Wright -Wright, age 97 of NJ cherished sisters,
they talked each and every day.
Mary, a woman of faith, belonged to Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church North
Carolina’s oldest African- American Presbyterian Church. It is where her ancestors Henry,
John and her parents also attended. Mary received her B.S. Education degree from St.
Augustine Episcopal College, one of the nation’s historically black institutions of higher
learning in Raleigh, NC. Mary ultimately converted and became a devoted Episcopalian
while at St Augustine. Mary put her educational background to good use with young minds,
as the Director of St. Johns Presbyterian Church Day Care for 16 years.
Mary loved reading and doing word searches along with passing time by crocheting
taught to her by her mother. She particularly enjoyed crocheting later in life with her
“adopted” daughter Bernadette Rosser Boseman. It brought her many nights of comfort
from the blankets they made for various churches and organizations.
Now joining our beloved father, Mom is survived by our families: Edward Darnell,
Homer T. Gaines, Sr. (Ellen), Edward L. Gaines, Jr. (Camellia), five grandsons, Glen
Darnell, Gary Darnell, Homer T. Gaines Jr. (Tami), Jason M. Gaines (Amber), Edward L.
Gaines III (Natasha} and one grand-daughter Margaret C. Gaines (Nathan ), eight great
grand-daughters: Zoe R. Gaines, Nia Gaines, Laney Gaines, Saige Wilson, Mackenzie
Clemons, Isabella Gaines, Victoria Gaines, Anastasia Gaines and three great grand-sons.
Jason Gaines, Edward L. Gaines IV and Savoy “Sanjay” Gaines. Other relatives include six
nieces and two nephews, 4 great nephews and 5 great nieces, and host of other relatives that
admired their Aunt Mary.
Special acknowledgements to Robert and Jackie Dunlap, Juanita Gaines, Alex and
Bernadette Boseman, Kathy Williams, Stephanie Berry and numerous friends and family
members.
In lieu of flowers consider donating to St Augustine College in Raleigh, North
Carolina, Christ Church Detroit 960 East Jefferson Ave Detroit, MI 48207. And, please
visit www.jameshcole.com to share a special memory about Mary (Mom) or to sign our online
guest book.