Frances Alice Gaines

Frances Alice Gaines was born July 21, 1943, to Ophelia Fair and George Seanior, Sr. in England, Arkansas. Frances was adopted by her stepfather Earle Gaines preceded in death. Frances had two brothers, George Seanior, Jr. and Ghingo Wesley Brooks.
Frances had a determined and uncompromising personality. When she set her mind to a task, she became unstoppable. That determination showed itself throughout the years in her dedication to her family, friends and her church. For her family, no mountain was too high to climb over, no valley was too long to walk across, and no ocean was too wide to swim (despite her lifelong distrust of any more water than could fill a bathtub). She became the Aunt Frances in St. Louis or Auntie Alice in Chicago that supported and nurtured us all through good and bad times. Frances had unconditional love for her many nieces, nephews and cousins in St. Louis and Chicago. She was the caregiver that gave so much of herself but rarely asked for anything in return. As a child, Frances moved northward as part of the "Great Migration" and as an adult fought for and saw enormous changes in the world of Civil Rights.
Frances had a mischievous and feisty personality. She told the story many times that as a child she and her cousins had corn cob dolls and played "Cowboys and Indians" with real guns. Frances also loved to say that while her cousins were running around the yard, she would hide behind the kitchen door and listen to the ladies' gossip.
In 2018, Frances became a resident at Crown Center for Senior Living where she developed new friendships and participated in many activities. Crown Center became her home and, our family thanks the staff at Crown Center for always showing your support and giving Frances a community many rich experiences. She leaves behind many dear friends at Crown Center.
Our beloved Frances passed on March 31, 2025, from complications from COPD, which over time simply overwhelmed her ability to fight. Frances had been in treatment for two years for Small Cell Lung Cancer at a New York Hospital while living with her son and his husband in Bronxville, NY.
Frances leaves behind her only son Morris Edward Gaines and son-in-law Richard Henry Martin. Sister-in-law, Dr. Phyllis Brooks, Cousins Christine Sherrill and Donald Fair and wife Geraldine Fair. Frances loved "Teen" and Donald more as siblings than cousins. She leaves behind a whole host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In her final days Frances asked to "go home". Today we gather to send her home to her Heavenly Father where we know she will watch over us and intercede on our behalf.

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