Mrs. Jeanette Gaines

Jeanette (Wynne) Gaines was born in Brinkley, Arkansas, to the late parents of Marvie and Virgil Charlotte Wynne. She was raised by her late Aunt Jeanette Washington Spencer and late Uncle Johnny Spencer. Jeanette began college at the age of 16 and graduated a few years later with a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, previously known as Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College.

She was a proud and dedicated elementary school teacher for over 34 years. She taught various grades from second through sixth, with third grade as her favorite in several states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee and California. Her favorite teaching experience was at Little Rock’s Terry Elementary. Jeanette also worked several summers with the Little Rock Economic Opportunity Agency (EOA). She was a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Little Rock where she taught an adult Sunday school class for several years and Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta. She maintained a fierce loyalty and protection for her children and had the unique quality of raising her two sons and three daughters Anita, John, Angela, Andre and Alicia with an independence and love that only a mother could provide.

She was a woman who was ahead of her time who chose to “look for something different” and “embrace change” and move from Little Rock to Atlanta in 1986. She continued teaching and eventually left Atlanta in 1991 and moved back to Little Rock. 

This is where the story takes a romantic turn, and she deserved every moment of the journey. She met the love of her life in Little Rock when a mutual friend, Mrs. Carolyn Crumpton, introduced her to Arthur Gaines, Sr. His gentle loving-kindness had a huge impact on her. They married on December 13, 1996. Jeanette’s keen sense of humor and overall “sassiness” were both endearing as well as enduring until the very end. She even endowed one of her granddaughters with that undeniable sassiness. She will remain unnamed.

Jeanette found beauty in life's simple pleasures such as bird watching, cultivating plants and flowers, reading, and dinners with family. Through the years, she enjoyed lunches with her husband, Arthur, and sister-in-law Etta Mae Harris. Jeanette always appreciated the visits, cards, and flowers from her sister-in-law, Rita White-Crump. During her healthier years, she loved traveling and was intrigued by lighthouses. Theatre was also a passion. Jeanette nearly completed her work on two children's books.

Jeanette’s firstborn, Dimple Anita Hendon, preceded her in death in 2017, and stepson, Arthur Gaines, Jr., in 2020.

She is survived by her husband Arthur Gaines, Sr., of Little Rock; two daughters and two sons Angela Miller of Little Rock, Alicia Robinson-Morgan (Tony) of Washington, DC, Andre Robinson of Lowell, MA and Little Rock, and John (Beverly) White of Thousand Palms, CA, two stepdaughters Alyshia Gaines and Rhonda Gaines of Little Rock; five grandchildren Lindsey Hendon of Atlanta, GA, Kennedy Miller and Kendrick Miller of Little Rock, Sienna Morgan and Madison Morgan of Washington, DC, and four step grandchildren Ryan Miller, Keahna Miller, Bria Bonnette, and Xzavier Johnson all of Little Rock. 

Surviving special cousins are Bessie Hagood of Little Rock, Mayotis Robinson of Memphis, TN, Pastor Hugh Clay of Little Rock, and Paul Randall of St. Louis, MO. There are also many beloved surviving nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.