Ellen Stephens Gainey
August 6, 1930 – February 6, 2021

Funeral services for Ellen Stephens Gainey, 90, of Cairo, GA, are on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, at Pine Hill Baptist Church, Cairo, GA.  Rev. Charles Parker will officiate.  Services will conclude at the church.  Private interment will be in Gainey Cemetery, Cairo, GA.   Mrs. Gainey passed away at her home on Saturday, February 6, 2021.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ray Gainey, Blake Jones, Gary Gainey, Wayne Tootle, Wesley Lee, Sonny Lee, Robert Lee and Tony Bajoczky.

Mrs. Gainey was born on August 6, 1930, in Cairo, GA, to the late John Exodus Stephens and Vera Rehberg Stephens.  She was a member of the Cairo High School Class of 1947 and graduated as Class Valedictorian.   She completed her education at Valdosta State College where she also received her Masters Degree in Education.  On December 17, 1949, she married Robert Lane Gainey, who preceded her in death on January 5, 2021.  They had been married for 71 years.  She was a teacher with the Grady County Board of Education for 33 years.  Ellen was a devoted member of Pine Hill Baptist Church where she played the piano for many years and taught Sunday School for over 60 years.

Survivors include: her daughter, Lynn Massey (Phil) of Cairo, GA; grandchildren, T.J. Massey (Sara) of Louisville, KY, Emily Massey of Washington, D.C.; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Day Massey and Mary Kathryn Massey of Louisville, KY; and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family, including the Pine Hill Baptist Church Family.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Memorials may be made in Mrs. Gainey’s memory to: Pine Hill Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1392, Cairo, GA 39828; or Gainey Cemetery, c/o Ray Gainey, 432 Bob Dixon Lane, Cairo, GA 39828.