Glenn H. Gainey

Born on March 25, 1931, on a small farm near Hartsville, SC, he was the son of the late Lewis Gainey and Ruth McInvaille Gainey.

Glenn graduated from Hartsville High School in 1949. His “greatest honor” was being elected Senior Class President on the first ballot. He attended Boys State in 1948 and worked part time at the local Piggly Wiggly to earn money to attend college. He was a 1953 graduate of the University of South Carolina. While at USC, he was chosen as a member of Blue Key Honor Society. He was also a member of Baptist Student Union, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and a USC cheerleader. He joined the first Air Force ROTC unit at USC which began his military career.

His faith was always very important and a central part of his life. Glenn was a member of First Baptist Church, Columbia, SC where he met his wife Jean Burnett Gainey. He was an active, long-time member of Lexington Baptist Church where he served as Treasurer, Deacon, Usher and on numerous committees. He especially enjoyed outreach and missions. With his outgoing personality and friendly nature, Glenn never met a stranger. Many credit him as the first person to invite them to church after moving to town.

Glenn worked for SCE&G for 28 years and retired in February 1993. He also served in the US Air Force and Air Force Reserves, retiring with the rank of Captain. His first overseas tour in French Morocco sparked his lifetime love of travel which led him to visit every continent except Antarctica. Having grown up on a cotton and tobacco farm, he always enjoyed gardening. His backyard vegetable garden was primarily his hobby, but he also dabbled in cultivating azaleas and with a small Christmas Tree farm in Saluda, SC.

He and Jean celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in June of this year. He was a true Southern gentleman who loved his family dearly. He enjoyed family reunions and seized every opportunity to visit. No matter where he was going, nearly every trip included a stop along the way to visit a friend or family member.

Glenn was predeceased by his parents, five brothers, and three sisters. He is survived by his wife, Jean; his children, David Lewis Gainey of Awendaw, Melanie Gainey Cappelmann (Billy) of Isle of Palms, Glenn Howard Gainey, Jr. of Burlington, NC; four grandchildren, Will Cappelmann (Lindsey), Emily Cappelmann, Brooke Gainey, Andrew Gainey, and one great grandson.

The family thanks Glenn’s caregivers from Agape Care Group, Lexington Community Hospice House, and McLeod Home Care, especially Erica Busbee, for their kindness and compassion.

A celebration of life will be held at Lexington Baptist Church Chapel on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Smile Train, PO Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090-6231 www.SmileTrain.org or Lexington Baptist Church Senior Adult Ministry, 308 E Main St, Lexington, SC