Wayne Glen Gaines, Jr., 75, of Winona, died Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at Baptist Hospital in Jackson.
Visitation was held Saturday, November 25, 2017, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Lee Funeral Home in Winona. Funeral services were held Saturday, November 25, 2017, at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Winona. Philip McRae officiated. Sandi Tollison provided the music.
Mr. Gaines was born in Batesville on November 19, 1942. He was a graduate of John Rundle High School, where he was a starting quarterback who broke many school records. He attended Mississippi State University on a football scholarship, and received a Bachelor’s of Education degree. His first coaching job was in his hometown of Grenada, where he taught and coached. From there, he went from Collierville High School, then Moss Point High School. After a hiatus from coaching, he resumed his coaching career at Winona Academy. He finished his career as athletic director and coach at Winona High School. The school always held a very special place in his heart.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Wayne Glen Gaines, Sr. and Edith Blakely Gaines. He is survived by his wife, Claire Allen Gaines; daughters Ashley Gaines Bauch (Stephen) of Germantown, Tenn., and Heather Gaines Rodgers (Stan) of Winona; sons Richard Todd Townes (Krista) of Milton, Ga., and Troy Blakely Townes of Grenada; one brother, Bill Gaines (Jan) of Marrietta, Ga., and his aunt, Patricia Blakely of Sardis. He had eight grandchildren, Price and Parker Townes; Jack, Kate, Ella, and Reed Bauch; Gaines Rodgers; and Brendan Wright.
He touched so many lives in coaching and loved all of his students. He loved his family and took great joy in spending time with his grandchildren. He loved to laugh and always had a smile on his face. He was an avid golfer and founder of the golf team at Winona High School. He attended Shongalo Presbyterian Church in Vaiden.
Pallbearers were Chris Herring, Chris McRae, Jerry Flowers, Jeffrey Mosley, Mike Kotecki, Keith Ferguson, Mark Funderburk, and Jim Corban. Honorary pallbearers were Herb Parks, Jim Caffey, Jerry Hoover, Jimmy Whittemore, Doug Fowler, Seth Kent, Ronald Bond, Donald Bond, Bill Bryan, Conner Caffey, and Danny Goza.
Memorials may be made to the Winona High School Beautification Fund at Bank of Winona, P.O. Box 231, Winona, MS 38967 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
