Obit: John W. Gaines, 1939, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by: Evelyn Corbett Cunningham, 9457 E. Montego Lane, Shreveport, LA  
71118  e-mail  evelyneva@aol.com
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Colfax Chronicle  March 24, 1939

JOHN W. GAINES, 70, COLORED TEACHER DIES AT MONTGOMERY

John W. Gaines, a highly respected colored citizen and well known in Grant 
parish and adjoining sections, died at his home in Montgomery Sat. night at 
the age of 70 years.  He was borned in Grant parish, in what is now the 
Tademy Settlement, in 1869.

He was a teacher in the colored schools of this section for 51 years, most of 
his teaching was done in Grant parish, also taught in Winn, Natchitoches and 
Rapides parishes.  Many of the Negro leaders of this section received their 
first lessons in school from him. 

The deceased had three children Willie Gaines of Detroit; Phillip Gaines of 
New Orleans and Susie Feld, deceased.  He is survived by his wife, Alma 
Jackson.  

He was a faithful member of the Baptist church, which he joined at the age of 
16.

In obedience to the state law the aged teacher was retired from active school 
work at the close of last school session, but against the wishes of the 
school officials and his own people.

John Gaines was a lover of the soil, and the first Negro in this area to 
attempt to teach his people agriculture.  Whenever speaking to his people in 
masses he advised them to own a home, stick to soil and practice racial 
respect.  In these he led the way owning a 100 acres of some of the best land 
in Rapides parish, as also a home and two acre lot in Montgomery.  

The white people of Grant and Rapides have this to say:  "He was a good man."

The people to whom he taught might say with the poet:

"Thest of all the teachers, Are those who live their creeds, For to see good 
put into action, Is what everybody needs."

P.J. Winston and Phillip Jackson, Reporters