Lydia Gaines Obituary

Gaines, Lydia Shane age 93 years of Evanston, IL., passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at Alden Estates-Northmoor in Chicago, after an extended illness. Lydia was born April 7, 1915 in Evansville, Indiana. She retired from the Chicago Public School System in 1987. Lydia received her Bachelor's degree from Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN and a Master's Degree in Reading and Language Arts from the University of Minnesota. One of the more interesting things in her background was her years teaching in a segregated, one-room school-house in Newberg, IN. The students there were grades Kindergarten through Eighth. In 1946 Lydia Shane married Benjamin Gaines and they soon moved to Chicago. Ben and Lydia parented two sons, Michael Alvin Gaines and Benjamin Franklin Gaines, Jr. After moving to Evanston in 1960, the couple joined the First Baptist Church of Evanston (now Lake Street Church). Lydia became a devoted Sunday School Teacher there and a Leader in the Church's Youth Ministry. Lydia and her husband, Ben were avid world travelers and visited in numerous countries. Lydia is survived by her husband, Benjamin, Sr, sons, Michael and Benjamin,Jr., two sisters, Vera Thompson of Chicago and Ruby Mason of Altadena, CA, numerous nieces and nephews as well as several very special grand nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and many close family friends. Visitation Saturday, 10 a.m. until time of funeral 11 a.m., at Lake Street Church, 607 Lake St., Evanston, IL. Interment will be Evansville, IN.