Bettye Love (Chavis) Gaines

Bettye Love Gaines, daughter of the late John E. Chavis and Alma Bernice Chavis, was born in Mecklenberg County, Virginia on July 3, 1940.  She was the 10th of eleven children raised in South Hill, VA.  She attended Penuel RZUA Church and was baptized there. She attended South Hill public schools and graduated from East End High School. Soon after graduation, Bettye moved to Boston, MA, to live with her sister, Dorothy, so she could attend Shepard Gill Nursing School. Upon graduation, Bettye’s siblings were so proud, they all traveled to Boston along with their mother, Alma, to attend the graduation. 

After graduation, Bettye, met and married her husband Kenneth Roy Gaines. This union of 62 years was blessed with three children: Lisa (deceased), Lori and Kenneth J.They made homes in Malden, Tewksbury and most recently Middleboro, MA where Bettye was an active member of the Calvary Pentecostal Church in East Freetown, MA. Bettye had many talents. She loved to cook and her sister, Virginia, often said “B could make anything taste good”. She enjoyed her work as an LPN and was known for providing great care to her patients. Bettye especially enjoyed being a homemaker and decorating the various homes she and the family lived. You could often find her at home working on various home projects or vacuuming while listening to Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Gospel music. 

Bettye is preceded in death by her daughter, Dr. Lisa Gaines Smith.  

She leaves to cherish her memory by her devoted and beloved husband, Kenneth R. Gaines, daughter Lori (Kevin) McCullom, son Kenneth J. (Mechille) Gaines; grandchildren-Tiffany, Sarina, Michael, Cherisa and Peter; sister Virginia Coleman, brother, Douglas Chavis; sister-in-laws Karen Chavis and Gladys Gaines, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 7, 2023 (Sunday) from 12 Noon until 4 PM in the Oak Point Clubhouse, 200 Oak Point Drive, Middleboro, Massachusetts. 

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