Mary Pauline Gaines Martin

First let’s start by saying “Happy  insert the day here !” If you knew her you know she’d greet you with a smile and say whatever day of the week it was. It is with great sorrow that we announce the unfortunate passing of our Queen Mary Pauline Martin.

Pauline was born November 30th, 1951 to her loving parents Rev. Edward Gaines and Mary Gaines of Roseland VA. 

She was a devoted believer in God, daughter, loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, niece, aunt, God-mother, and pillar of the community. She loved watching tennis, ice skating, dancing with the stars, Lebron James play ball because he was her imaginary son. She also enjoyed watching Family Feud, 21 Words or Less, cooking shows, HGTV, American idol, Let’s Make a Deal, Wheel of Fortune, Price Is Right, and America Says.

 Although we are saddened to see our loved one go, we understand to be absent from the body is to be present with The Lord. So, we say glory hallelujah for her being seated at the side of our Father in heaven. We thank God for her life and legacy of prayer, love, kindness, and her ministry to through food. Our lives are and will have forever been impacted by her touch of love. Be it mothering us, loving on us, cooking or baking for us, babysitting us, press and curling our hair, preaching to us, teaching us, giving us Jesus, healing us, and soothing us with her motherly nature. The type of love she gave can’t be bought, and she was worth much more than weighted gold. She was royalty. She was a woman of virtue and grace; we miss her so. She belonged to all of us. She took care of you too if you’re reading this. Anything she said to one of us was surely gonna be used for each generation to come. The sky is filled with many of our angels, and the newest one, I know God prepared a seat for you. We love you Grandma Pauline, or as you called yourself GMOM for Great Mom! That you were, simply the best! Please pray for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and siblings. Overall pray for her family both near and far. We all need that agape love. It’s heavy for us, but that’s when we release it and give it to God for him to carry that heavy load. We lay all our burdens down. Let’s continue to give one another grace. We carry grief differently and we can use a lot more of the love of Christ like she exhibited. “Like Rachel Ray would say, I’ll see you when I see you”- Pauline. 

She is preceded in death by her husband John P. Martin, III. Her Father Edward Gaines, Mother Mary Gaines, siblings Emmitt Gaines, Rainard Gaines, Michael Gaines, Juliette Carter, and Edward ”Elmo” Gaines. 

She leaves to cherish her three beloved children, Anthony, Kelly, and Shawn; three grandchildren, Jasmine, Merrantanee, and Carlos; five great grandchildren, Lauren, Naomi, Jaxen, Lazih, and Kingston; a God daughter, Breanna Tucker; siblings, James “Tootie” Gaines, Dorange Gaines (Jamie), Joseph Gaines (Paula), Marlyn Cashwell, Lloyd Gaines, Gary Gaines (Kim), Phyllis Parrish (Robert), Shirley Allen, Ronnie Iniesta (Fernando), Machelle Gaines Tucker, sister-in-love, Florence Gaines; sisters and brothers-in-love on our beloved Martin side of the family, and many relatives who she loved and adored. 

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Oak Hill Baptist Church Cemetery with her Pastor Edward Hendricks officiating. 

The family would like to thank you all for the outpouring of love amongst the community. 

Arrangements by Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel, Lovingston (434) 263-4097.