Ms. Gladys Bell Gaines was born on November 24, 1923 to the late Tommy Mitchell and Alberta Van Landingham Mitchell in Batesburg, SC. She was educated in the local schools. Her family moved to Winston-Salem, NC when Ms. Gaines was a child. As a young adult, Ms. Gaines moved to Miami, Florida to help care for her sister. She remained there for over 50 years, returning to Winston-Salem with her daughter in 2010.

In addition to being a caregiver, she was a homemaker who loved spending time with her family, cooking and eating together. She also enjoyed playing BINGO.

Ms. Gaines was a member of her family church, Bethlehem Holiness Church.

Ms. Gaines passed away on Monday, November 12, 2018 at The Oaks of Forsyth following a period of declining health.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Gaines was preceded in death by her spouse, William Gaines; her three sisters: Carrie Salley, Catherine Kirby and Helena Mitchell; great grandson, Andrew Jones; great granddaughter, Lanay McCray; and great granddaughter, Zakyle Manning; three aunts and two uncles.

She is survived by her children: Shirley A. Mitchell and Robert J. Jacobs (Annette Allison); grandchildren: Arlene Manning Davenport, Darryl Manning, Laroi Dion Jackson, Rashida V. Dobson, Antonio Allison and Constance Jacobs; seventeen great grandchildren; nineteen great, great grandchildren and six great, great, great grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Nellie Jacobs; seven nieces; five nephews; a host of other relatives and friends.

A service in her memory will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 24, 2018 in the chapel of Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home. The family will greet friends immediately following the service.

For a copy of the funeral program, click here