October 17, 1934 - November 28, 2024

Evelyn Christine Gaines was born in Washington, D.C. on October 17, 1934. She was the eldest child of Eula Mae Copeland and Woodrow Wilson Copeland. After the untimely death of her mother, "Chris" as she was known to her family members, had occasionally moved between her widowed father in Washington, D.C., and her grandparents, Pearl Clayton and James Francis in Enfield. North Carolina.

Evelyn Christine was educated at Armstrong High School in Washington, D.C. In 1956, she married Leo S. Gaines of Washington, D.C. She then went on to begin her new life as a wife, homemaker, and mother eventually raising five children. She enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing and cooking. Her professional career started in the Federal government in the early 1970's with the U.S. Postal Service where she retired after 20 years.

Evelyn Christine was a quiet woman and devout Christian. Evelyn Christine embraced life in times of joy, celebration, and in times of sadness and loss. She possessed the rare ability to reserve judgment of others and the capacity to see the best in her family and friends.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024, Evelyn Christine Gaines passed away peacefully at her home in Fredericksburg, VA. She was 90 years old.

She was predeceased by her husband, Leo S. Gaines; her son, Tony C. Gaines; her brothers, Kenneth Copeland, Dennis Copeland and Woody Copeland; her niece, Yolanda Smith; and nephew, Lorne Copeland.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Terry Simmons, Cheryl Gaines, Glenda Gaines, and Earlene Garvey; her only sister, Janet Marie Smith and her children, Cheryl, Maurice, and Dante Smith; and niece, Shanea Copeland; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A viewing will be held at A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home, on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM. The interment will be held at Quantico National Cemetery on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank in memory of Evelyn Christine Gaines. Click here to make a donation to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank in honor of Evelyn Christine Gaines.

"And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it".  Ecclesiastes 12:7