Mrs. Gladys Lee Garnett Gaines Smith, age 81, of Amelia Island, passed away on Monday morning, February 29, 2016 at The Retreat of Osprey Village.

Born in Mechanicsville, VA, she was the eldest of two children born to the late Donald Courtney Garnett and Margaret Estell Jenkins Garnett. She grew up in Mechanicsville and married Mr. Herman Gaines on November 3, 1950. Over the next eleven years she and her husband had four children. During those years, the Gaines family lived in the Portsmouth / Chesapeake area of Virginia. In the early 1960s Mrs. Gaines began working outside of the home; first with Starband Corporation before joining General Electric and other various employers; retiring in 1997. After retiring she lived for a time with her son�s family in Woodstock, GA before joining her eldest daughter and son in law in Virginia Beach and then moved with them to Amelia Island in 2008.

She enjoyed Darts, Bowling and volunteering with Amelia Community Theater, as well as knitting and needle work. She loved to read and had fond memories of traveling with her brother, trips to Colorado, visiting Paris, France and a trip around the world. She treasured her family, friends and God. She was a wonderful mother and friend. She was always larger than the diminutive body she was given.

In addition to her children, Herman Nevada Gaines Jr. and his wife, Gloria recently of Fernandina Beach, FL (formerly of Central City, CO), Shelia Davidson and her husband, Robert Hull of Fernandina Beach, FL, Cheryl Gaines of Colordao Springs, CO, Bryan Gaines and his wife, Paula of Woodstock, GA; she leaves behind her brother, Broaddus �Buddy� Garnett of Niota, TN, five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley Heard with Pastor Beth Fogle-Miller, officiating.

Her family will receive friends on Wednesday, at the funeral home, from 1:00 pm until the hour of service.

She will be laid to rest in Bosque Bello Cemetery.