Linda May (Ray) Gaines, 64, returned to her heavenly home on March 20, 2016 after a valiant battle with lifelong illnesses. Her devotion to her family, friends, church, and her firm belief in God maintained her in her fight and ultimately gave her peace. Linda was born to the late James Milton and Mary Leo (Key) Ray, a Hostess Cupcake Driver and a Homemaker respectively, in Cincinnati, OH on February 21, 1952. Growing up she enjoyed everything outdoors from sports, to climbing trees, to playing in the streets with her neighborhood friends. Those who grew up with her described her in her youth as being full of life, sweet spirited with a touch of feistiness. She loved going to the local community center where she nurtured her love of people at an early age. In her teenage years she fully realized her love of Christ when she began attending Bethlehem Temple. She graduated from Taft High School located in Cincinnati, OH in 1970. Linda was blessed with a large and loving family with husband Ronald Gaines Sr. and George D. Thorne Jr. Linda raised her seven children with patience, a spiritual heart, humility and firm hand. She was a woman who believed in the importance of family from the strong bond she had with her husband, kids, her seven siblings, especially her twin, to her church families at Bethlehem Temple, Church of Jesus Christ and her most current church, Greater Faith Worship Center. From the very beginning, she dedicated her children to God and encouraged them to explore the beauty of the gospels, leading two of her sons, Brian Sr. and Loren, to become ordained ministers. Linda lived her life with a passion to serve others. She was an anointed woman of God who knew how to get a prayer through to the Throne Room and she loved being a servant in the house of God. She was loving, kind, generous, faithful and humble. She has never met a stranger. She always had time to answer a question, solve a problem, lend a helping hand and most importantly, she ALWAYS had time to pray for others. She is dearly missed by her loved ones, who celebrate the fact that she is now praising God without ceasing in new heavenly home. Linda is survived by her husband, Ronald Sr.; her sons Brian Sr., Ronald Jr. and Loren Gaines; her daughters Brijin Shelton, Lavon Gaines, Georlin and Vivian Thorne. Her son in-law Clarence Shelton. Her daughter in-laws LaShahn and Elisangela Gaines. Her grandchildren Brian Jr., Brionne, Brittany, Jamaal, Aleke, Danyelle, BreShahna, Ryon, Rayah, Lamarii, Alayshia, Darwell, Zoey, Isabella, Loren, Nicodemus, London, Noah, Alyzabeth, Jada, Xavier, and her unborn grandson due April 29, 2016. Her brothers Joseph D. and John M. Ray. Her sisters Mary Ethel Smith, Barbara E. Ray, Brenda M. Owensby (twin sister) and Patricia Craddock. She is preceded in death by her parents James and Mary Ray Sr.; her brothers James C. Huntley and James Ray Jr.; and a list of love ones. Visitation is from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm, on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at the Hope For You Family Life and Worship Center, 1947 Miles Road, Cincinnati (45231). The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation beginning at 12:00 pm. To share a memory of Linda or leave a special message for the Gaines family, please click the Share Button below. Walker Funeral Home of Cincinnati is serving the Gaines family.

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