Essie Gaines

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
(Psalm 121:1-2)
The resolve of the Saint who's hope and help is the Lord is an earthly fountain of strength, bearing witness to others in a helpless and hopeless world.

Essie Batson Gaines was born to the parental stewardship of Joseph D. Batson "Pa Joe" & Laura E. Burney Batson "Mo-Mo" on May 10, 1927, in Latimer, Mississippi. The providential order of God sanctified her birth as the seventh of thirteen musically gifted children.

In the tender years of her youth, she sealed her eternal destination when she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and Lord at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Vancleave, Mississippi.

The formal commencement of her education was spent at Bluff Creek Middle School in Vancleave, Mississippi. As a young lady reared to respect the value of responsibility, she sought employment at the Coca-Cola Company Factory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Favor and fulfillment met in her life when she was united in holy matrimony to the late Luther Gaines on October 9, 1948. The blessing of one son was added to this honorable union that spanned the length of fifty-six remarkable years.

In 1956 she and her husband moved to Killeen, Texas where they united with the Marlboro Heights Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of the late Dr. R. A. Abercrombie. Her commitment to serving Christ as her Lord could not have been more evident as she engaged herself in the work of ministry. Her works in ministry were vast including but not limited to the following: Sunday School Teacher, BTU Instructor, Nursery Worker, Jail Ministry, Senior Women's Mission, Music Ministry, the Ministry of Evangelism, Nursing Home Visitation, and the Diaconate. In 2005 she publicly acknowledged her acceptance of the Call of God to the Preaching Ministry. She proclaimed her first message before members of the Marlboro Church Family during this same year.

Affectionately referred to and respected by her family as "Mame" she exemplified the qualities of a virtuous woman according to Proverbs 31. Her love for the Lord was the influence of her love for her family, and those blessed to embrace her by relationship and fellowship. Sincere, sensitive, sacrificial, sacred and serious are words that best capture the true essence of her distinct and unique personality. Her sincerity was her badge of honor, exhibited in every aspect of her dealings with people. Her sensitivity was a conscious expression of her compassion expressed in her concern for others. Her sacrificial initiatives were an extended investment of herself on behalf of others without regard for personal gain in return. Her sacred spirit was the voice of her reverence for God, expressed by her insatiable appetite to please Him. Her serious demeanor was a genuine reflection of her reverential regard for spiritual discernment and godly direction emanating from the voice of wisdom.

Her love for life could be viewed in her daily living. She loved spending quality time with her family. Whether it was gathering for the bi-annual family reunions, attending to the medical and or domestic welfare of other elders in her church and community, she lived to help others live life to the fullest. She often enjoyed engaging her competitive ambitions in a friendly game of Chinese checkers. Perhaps her greatest delight was spent singing, praying, praising and seizing every opportunity to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God with others. Life for her was living in pursuit of making life for others God's best!

While many live to one day leave their handprints upon the canvass of history; Essie Gaines lived to leave her heart-print upon every human soul graced to embrace her presence on her way to Heaven.
On the early afternoon of May 5, 2018, Essie Gaines gracefully left the shores of this earthly life to the sounds of the angelic voices of those members of her family, singing her into the Presence of the Lord.

Among those preceding her deliverance are her Parents: Joseph D. Batson and Laura E. Burney Batson; Husband: Deacon Luther Gaines; One Son: Charles Gaines Sr.; Five Sisters: Avanell, Ruth, Georgia, Gladys and Beverly; and Four Brothers: Henry, Truman, John and Joseph.
Among those who rejoice at the remembrance of her honorable tenure on earth; who also anticipate the glorious reunion after the resurrection, at the return of our Lord are: her Grandchildren: Melvin Gaines, Charles Gaines, Jr., Ammy Earle, each of San Antonio, Texas; Leonard "Lee-Ray" Lynce, Jessica Tyson (Bryan), Jelynne and Jasmine Fulton, each of Killeen, Texas; three Sisters: Laura Whigham of Moss Point, MS., Lucille Massey of San Antonio, Texas; and Geraldine Reeves of Los Angeles, California; one goddaughter: Audrey Fulton, Killeen, Texas and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.

Visitation

Marlboro Heights Missionary Baptist Church
2901 Illinois Ave.
Killeen, TX  76542
Saturday, May 19, 2018
9 - 11 a.m.

Service

Traditional

Marlboro Heights Missionary Baptist Church
2901 Illinois Ave.
Killeen, TX  76542
Saturday, May 19, 2018
11:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Killeen Memorial Park
3600 Lake Rd.
Killeen, TX  76543