Gaines M. Coker Sr. went to be with the Lord and his loving wife Marguerite Taylor Coker, Monday, May 20, 2019. He was a resident of the Sabal House in Cantonment, Florida. He was born August 13, 1921 in Rock Springs, Alabama. Son of deceased parents Lela & Homer Coker, brother to deceased Hoyt Coker and sister Hilda Thornton Coker who currently resides in Alexander City, Alabama.
Gaines grew up in the Beville Village in Alexander City, AL and later worked for Avondale Mills.
He enjoyed playing baseball, football, & basketball. He was captain of the 1940 Alexander City Wildcats football team. He also took up running later in life, running 5K and 1-2 Mile Road Races in which he placed 1st in his age group. (I Corinthians 9:24-25; II Timothy 4:7-8; Hebrews 12:1-2)
He was a United States Marine during WWII. He played textile baseball and basketball in Alexander City, AL for Avondale Mills. He also played for an American Minor League Baseball team, Alexander City Millers. He met Marguerite Taylor Coker on the basketball court and married on March 2, 1946. Gaines & Marguerite were married for 69 years.
He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior the Summer of 1951 at Comer Baptist Church, Alexander City, AL. He served as a deacon at Comer Baptist Church and graduated from Southern Union College in Wadley, AL.
In 1957 he became a Claim Agent for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. He served the Pensacola/Mobile to New Orleans territory investigating accidents and claims for 30 years. Gaines & Marguerite were faithful members of Brent Baptist Church and Burgess Road Baptist Church in Pensacola and Greystone Bible Church, Mobile, AL. Gaines & Marguerite thoroughly enjoyed gardening and making their yard beautiful at 4204 Spring Valley Dr., in Mobile, AL. Gaines & Marguerite enjoyed RVing visiting family & friends.
Those counting it to be a privilege to have been a part of his life are: daughter, Linda (Dennis) Williams of Seminole, AL; a daughter, Jennifer (Dale) Wilson of Pensacola, FL; a son, Gaines (Melissa) Coker, Jr. of Tyrone, GA; five grandchildren, Gregory Williams, Craig (Brenda) Williams, Robyn (Neal) Shenberger, Jeremy (Kate) Wilson, and Gaines Coker III; seven great- grandchildren, Dixie, Dalton (Allie) Shenberger, Deacon, Savannah, Olivia, Lincoln, and Anna Stephen.
The celebration of Gaines M. Coker Sr. life will be held from the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home at 10:00 AM (Saturday, May 25th) with Rev. Tony Leonard officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home (Saturday, May 25th) from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Mobile Memorial Gardens.
1921-2019
A chapel service will be held at 12pm on Saturday ,05/25/2019 from Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, followed by a committal service at the grave site.
To Uncle Gaines and his family.
We will surely miss him.
Truly, one of the sweetest, kindest gentleman I ever had the honour of knowing. Mr. Gaines Coker, thank you for our time together when I came to be your caregiver. I loved the stories of your days with the L&N Railroad. I loved your love for Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. You go rest in peace now beside your basketball playing sweetheart. I will always smile when i think of you.