Maxine L Gaines

Maxine Lorraine Gaines was born November 6, 1940 in Baltimore Maryland to the late Henry & Lucille Gaines. Maxine Gaines gained her heavenly wings on June 19, 2024 after brief illness. She was preceding in death by her siblings Esther Vernell Boone (2008) and Henry Gaines, Jr. (1986) She was also preceded in death by her life partner Michael Gaylor Curry (2015). Maxine attended Public School #109 in East Baltimore and graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar Junior/Senior High School in 1958. Maxine loved learning and her favorite subject was history. Maxine briefly attended Baltimore City Community College majoring in The Black Diaspora. Maxine's goal was to become a History teacher. Maxine had to put her dreams of becoming a teacher on hold and find work to support herself and her children" Maxine was lovingly nicknamed "Max" by her family & friends. Max was a "East Baltimore Girl" and PROUD OF IT! Max enjoyed cooking, dancing and traveling. She loved all genres of music and would hum a tune to anything that came on the radio, even Megan "The Stallion", while riding with her great granddaughter, Taylor. Max favorite music festival was the Hampton Jazz Festival. She enjoyed traveling to Hampton Virginia on the bus with her friends and family, eating, laughing and singing. She looked forward to to the last night when she could wear her white outfit and groove to favorite group, Frankie Beverly & Maze. She enjoyed singing and writing daily prayers for her family and friends in her journals. Max intentionally kept track of her loved one's birthday's, anniversary's and special dates and was sure to send a card through the mail to acknowledge it. This small act of kindness touched the hearts of so many and became known as her Birthday Card Ministry. Every day, Max had to watch her soap operas (stories) while talking to her cousin Louis on the phone and she never missed her late-night calls with her Ne-Ne just to talk and pray. Max loved watching her Baltimore Orioles and Ravens play and looked forward to the Superbowl and World Series, when she and her Son-In-Law Calvin (Foot) would prepare a feast just for the two of them. Maxine loved to travel, her favorite destination was St. Thomas Virgin Islands and she loved to cruise. Maxine valued her family and friends and never missed an opportunity to celebrate with them at social events and family gatherings. Maxine loved the Lord; she was a lifetime member of the Southern Baptist Church. She served as a member of the Hospitality Ministry (formally known as Courtesy Guild), Scholarship Committee and she sung on numerous choirs.. Her favorite choir was the Early Morning Choir. Maxine was also a member of the New Shiloh Baptist Church Prayer Ministry. She attended and participated in 6 am prayer and devotions regularly prior to COVID. Maxine started working at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1966. She began working in the dietary department and worked her way to medical records and patient care, which later became the Pre-Op Evaluation Unit. In 2003, she retired from Johns Hopkins Hospital after 37 years of service. Maxine continued to work for Hopkins post retirement for an additional 5 years as a consultant. During that time, she set her own schedule, refused to work during bad weather and received several yearly increases post retirement. While working at John Hopkins Hospital, Maxine received numerous awards & recognitions for Excellent Service. During her career at Hopkins and throughout her lifetime, Maxine met fiends that became family. They shared holidays, birth of children, graduations, weddings and many celebrations together. They also supported each other through the difficult challenges of life. Maxine cherished these connections and intentionally maintained contact with her friends after retirement. Maxine had close circle of girlfriends & cousins that she joined in spirit including Annie Green, Clarice Jackson, Rena Barnes, Loretta Miller & Mozelle Smith. Maxine was a friend to many and had many adopted sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, grands and great grands. Her smile was infectious and her love was genuine. She could always make you laugh or smile with a witty comment or facial expression. Max would do anything for anybody, anytime, anywhere and she will forever be missed. Maxine leaves to mourn and cherish her memory: Daughter, Dana (Calvin) Rease; Son, Rodney Gaines; Granddaughter, Tennille Blue-Broady; Great Granddaughter, Taylor Shaw; Devoted Nieces, Tia L. Blue-Owens (Jason) and Michelle D. Boone; Devoted Great Nieces, Kasean T. Reeves, London Davis, Kennedie Kinlaw & Kalynn Kinlaw & Great, Great Nephew Kayson Reeves; Two Nieces, Tanya Navarrete & Tashia Gaines; Two Nephews, Henry "Hank" Gaines III & Travis Gaines; Twelve Great nieces & nephews and Four great, great nieces & nephew. Special cousins, Lois Franks, Ruby Winkler, Gloria Irving, Lucy Rory; Sidney White, Jr., Carlton Hill, and Jody Hill. Special Sisters in Christ, Irma Craig & Denise Williams and a host of extended family members, special friends and adopted son's & daughter's. Special acknowledgments to The Boone Family; Arnold Williams, CPA; Bishop Donte' Hickman and Bishop Joseph A. McCargo.

Tributes

Maxine L Gaines

November 6, 1940 - June 19, 2024