Tyrone

Gaines

Celebrating the Life of Tyrone Gaine.

Obituary

Tyrone Gaines was born July 22nd, 1941, in Birmingham, Alabama to Flavors and Pinkie (Preston) Gaines. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, residing in the East 40th Street Projects near Central; and later relocated to Grantwood Avenue, where close-knit relationships developed which continued throughout his life.

His father “Daddy Flavors” maintained a “tight ship” having six boys under his roof, Flavors Jr., Winford, Melvin, Arthur, Tyrone, and Larry. His mother “Ma Pinkie” provided a strong sense of grounding for him during the ups and downs of life as a young man.

Tyrone completed his education at the Cleveland Public Schools at Glenville High. He was drafted during the Vietnam War Era, where he served as a paratrooper in the Army 101st Airborne Division stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Later in life Tyrone was always seen wearing an Airborne Army cap out of respect that the Vietnam soldiers did not receive when they returned home from the War.

While working for A&P Grocery after returning home, Tyrone had a strong desire to go into business for himself. He and his younger brother, Larry, purchased a Flower Shop in East Cleveland on Euclid Avenue; later Larry expanded to his own shop on Cedar and 89th. With Floral Design classes and training, Tyrone pursued his chosen career and became a talented designer. The floral business, Gaines and Gaines Florist, flourished for over forty years, with the help of Maurio Miller, who was as close as a son to him.

On the passing of his mother, who had been his rock, Tyrone felt a great void in his life. He began searching to fill the emptiness in his heart by listening to Christian radio. After listening to the Word of God on the radio for some time, the Pastor of Open Door Baptist Church, Rev. Horace Rickerson, gave an invitation to receive Jesus Christ and Tyrone fell to his knees in the back of the flower shop and accepted Jesus Christ as his

Savior and Lord. He eventually was led to East Mt Zion Baptist Church at a Watch Night Service and became the first candidate of 1982; Pastor A. Charles Bowie baptized him. With a heart for evangelism through radio, Tyrone established and supported a radio broadcast at EMZ until the Church included it as a regular Church ministry.

As Tyrone continued to grow in the Lord, he asked the Lord for a Christian wife. The Lord blessed him to meet and eventually marry Winsome Jones in 1983. They became a team in everything they did even in the midst of her challenging dental career. They shared in parenting, Christian ministries, the flower shop, traveling, and family responsibilities. Having a commitment to God first and then each other, they shared 43 precious years of love, joy, laughter, and hard work, receiving strength through it all, from the grace of God.

Tyrone loved his children, Tyrone, Julius Sr, Radin, and Stephanie, and grandchildren Julius Jr., Quentin, Derrick, and Jordan, always lifting them up in prayer. Having a blended family, he carved out special time to make memories; going to the beach every year together, being involved with Church worship and activities together, playing family games and watching sports together, and playfully aggravating each other. One of Tyrone’s greatest blessings from the Lord was getting to know his adult sons and the time they shared together.

He leaves to cherish his memory a loving and devoted wife and partner of 43 years Winsome Jones Gaines. Beloved children, Julius Sr. (Stacey), Radin, and Stephanie. Treasured grandchildren, Julius Jr., Quentin, Derrick, and Jordan. Devoted brothers, Melvin (Delia) and Arthur (DeLores); sister-in-law Deborah. And a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Tyrone, and siblings, Bernice, James, Walter, Flavors Jr., Louise, Larry, Lloyd, and Winford.. The Lord is my light and my Salvation, whom shall i fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart, wait I say on the Lord Psalms 27