DeLois Williams Gainey

DeLois Williams Gainey, also known as “Mrs. Gainey” to many of her former students, passed away unexpectedly on December 31, 2024. She was born in Doerun, Georgia (Colquitt County) on January 29, 1945 to the late Frank & Lois Bell Williams. She graduated from Gainesville High School (Florida) in 1963. She received her Bachelors of Education from Florida State University and two graduate degrees from the University of Georgia.

DeLois was a passionate educator for 34 years, having taught in DeKalb County, Jefferson City School System and Clarke County. Her beloved Hilsman Middle School was her school home for 29 of those years. Most notable in “Mrs. Gainey’s” classroom was her quote, “Don’t leave your mayonnaise in the bathtub.” Her educational legacy will be her desire and activism to make all students’ educational experience a top priority. Her classroom was fun, engaging and an encyclopedia of all-things Social Studies, most notably Georgia History. When Atlanta, Georgia was named the host city for the 1996 Olympics, Mrs. Gainey, along with many of her lifelong teacher friends, coordinated a school-wide Olympic Ceremony to kickstart the excitement among the school.

DeLois was a member of Athens First United Methodist Church & many philanthropic & historical organizations. Faithfully, she served as an active member of the Athens Area Retired Educators Association & Georgia Retired Educators Association. She was a member & past president of the University of Georgia Women’s Club, P.E.O. International (charter member of Chapter BK), United Daughters of the Confederacy, The National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (Elijah Clarke Chapter), the Colonial Dames, and her Roadrunners club. She spent her retirement years researching ancestry and genealogy for her family.

DeLois is survived by her husband of 52 years, Lewis Gainey; daughters, Molly (Wayne) McCarty of Jefferson, and Julia (Scott) Little of Milledgeville; three, adored granddaughters, Lanie McCarty, Maryn McCarty and Emma Kate Little; a host of cousins, friends, UGA Track & Field athletes that Lewis coached who were like her children, and neighbors. 

In place of a formal visitation or funeral, DeLois requested everyone to spend a day or an allotted time to provide an act of service to others in her memory. On the day of her passing, she sent her daughters and many friends a picture of the late President Jimmy Carter’s quote, “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something…my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.” This was truly DeLois’s life legacy.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to one of her requested organizations: 

Foundation for Excellence in Public Education (Clarke County, Georgia) 

1860 Barnett Shoals Road, Suite 103 #483

Athens, Georgia 30605

or 

First United Methodist Church

327 N Lumpkin St.

Athens, Georgia 30601

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com