Sister Bessie Lee Smalley-Gaines

SMALLEY-GAINES, Sister Bessie Lee - age 102, passed away Monday, August 11, 2014 at Heartland Health Care Center-Fostrian-Flushing, MI. Family hour 10 a.m. Saturday, August 16, 2014 at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, G-5443 N. Saginaw St. with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Bishop Neal Roberson officiating. Interment Gracelawn Community Cemetery, G-5710 N. Saginaw St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Saturday. Sister Smalley-Gaines will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed Friday from 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Sister Bessie Lee Gaines, aka “Granny Gaines”, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, August 11, 2014. She was born March 8, 1912 in Lebanon, Kentucky to the family of William Henry and Mae (Clarke) Smalley. Sister Bessie was the sixth child out of nine brother and sisters. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1930. Sister Bessie accepted Christ at an early age under the Methodist faith. Subsequently, she was encouraged in 1960 by her husband Henry to accept membership at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Ira Watkins and was baptized. At Macedonia she served in the capacity as supervisor of the Young Adult Choir for over 35 years. The choir had the highest respect for Sister Bessie and enjoyed her fun loving spirit. She was head of the kitchen committee for many years working beside many Christian sister and brothers preparing dinner for all occasions. She was also, a member of the Missionary Society. Sister Bessie was employed at Citizens Bank as an elevator operator. During the war she was a parts inspector for airplanes at Buick, until Henry returned from the war. She then became a homemaker. She let everybody know that Henry and her children were her first priority. Sister Bessie cooked a fresh meal everyday until her husband passed. At that time, she announced to all that her kitchen was now closed. Sister Bessie never hesitated to help any and all of her neighbors when they were in need of advice or clothing. She was also, the first employer of her children. She showed them how to follow directions each Saturday morning by cleaning the house. Sister Bessie was a mother who taught her seven children and she was never questioned, if you did something wrong, out came the chair and belt. On November 24, 1944, Sister Bessie married the love of her life Henry Gaines in Flint, Michigan on his lunch hour from Buick. She walked as a loving spirit beside her husband. They were married for forty-four years until his home going on February 6, 1988. Sister Bessie Lee Gaines leaves to cherish her loving memory: 3 daughters: Mary Cross, Nancy (Charles) Murphy, Flint, Patricia (Minister Leon) Adams, Grand Blanc; 3 sons: George (Esther) Smalley of San Antonio, Texas, Henry (Gwendolyn) Gaines, and Joseph (Sheila) Gaines, of Flint, MI, 25 grandchildren, 22 great grand children, 13 great-great grandchildren. One brother: Richard Smalley of Lebanon, Ky and a host of nieces, nephews, and many friends, special girlfriends, and her Macedonia Church family. Special thanks to Macedonia, Mt. Olive, Grace Emmanuel, Flint, MI and Beth Eden Baptist Church, Detroit and all of the staff at Fostrian Nursing Home; Dr. Calvin Calloway, Dr. Reddy and Dr. Matt Weiss. Sister Bessie was preceded in death by: her husband, Henry Gaines, One son Irish Gaines, One daughter Ruth Gaines, parents, sisters, brothers and special cousin Edith Buckner.

Sister Bessie Lee Smalley-Gaines

March 8, 1912 - August 11, 2014