Essie Mae Gaines was born July 18, 1930 to the late Mary Cook and Frank Johnson. She peacefully departed this life on Sunday, March 31, 2019 at Emerald Health Care in Port Saint Lucie, FL.

She was educated in Evans County Public School System. She was employed by Dan McCarty for many years doing domestic work and hostess for their special events. She was joined in Holy Matrimony to the late Dealmos Gaines.

Essie was a member of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church where she served faithfully until her health failed.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories, her son, William Lindsey(Maretha); daughters, Carlotta Walker(Rudolph), Jestine Graham(Millard), Lana Gaines(Stanley); brothers, Reggie, George, and Clifford Johnson; sister-in-law, Alberta Federick, one special, loving, and devoted daughter-in-law, Maretha Lindsey; 13 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and a host of relatives and sorrowing friends who will miss her dearly.

Funeral services will convene on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 2:00pm at Stone Brothers Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Pierce, FL. Burial will follow in Sarah's Memorial Gardens in Fort Pierce, FL.