Pastor Gaines
Rosewood Heights |
Pastor Heuda Gaines, 85, went to meet Jesus at 1:55 p.m. Friday, February 27, 2015.
Born Jan. 28, 1930 in Zalma, Mo., he was a son of King Gaines and Ella (Deck) Gaines.
He moved to St. Louis, where he met Jenny Aleane Medlin. They were married in August, 1948. They were blessed with 2 children, Don and Shirley. After a lengthy illness, Aleane passed away.
In 12974 he married Marjorie Overbey and became a father to her sons, James and John.
Heuda was ordained a minister in the General Baptist denomination. During his career he founded and pastored Edwardsville General Baptist Church for 10 years. He then pastored Friendship General Baptist Church in East Alton for 30 years.
He always loved and worked with youth. His enthusiasm for youth lead to his being instrumental in the construction of Camp Hugh in Bunker Hill, Ill., which is still operating and bears his name. He participated in 2 missionary projects in Jamaica: building an additional house for missionaries and a water plant for a youth camp there.
He was an avid hunter and loved fishing. He has many trophies from his adventures. Horses were a big love of his life, and he worked with many during his lifetime.
Heuda is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Rosewood Heights; his daughter, Shirley Taylor of Bethalto; his sons, James (Tina) Overbey of Wood River and John Overbey of Worden; his grandchildren, Tim Gaines of Oakland City, Tenn., Jon (Jennifer) Gaines of Owensburg, Tenn., Amy Cable, Jenny Norman, Lori (Collin) Yates, all of Wood River, Thomas (Kelly) Taylor III of Cottage Hills, Jamie Overbey, and Ashley (Kolt) Zick, all of Wood River; 17 great grandchildren; and his sister, Corna Watkins of Cape Girardeau, Mo.
In addition to his first wife, Aleane, he was preceded in death by his son, Donnie Gaines; his parents; and brothers and sisters.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 at Paynic Home for Funerals. A Celebration of the Life of Heuda Gaines will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 4 at Friendship General Baptist Church in East Alton, with Pastor James Overbey officiating.
Burial will follow at Wanda Cemetery in South Roxana.
Online guestbook and information is available at www.paynicfh.com
Paynic Home for Funerals
