Sarah Hannah Bagby Gainey

Sarah Hannah Bagby Gainey passed away peacefully on June 11, 2023, at Big Bend Hospice at the amazing age of 98, a proud woman of the Greatest Generation, a generation described as driven, patriotic and team players, and she left a lasting impact on the lives of those around her.

Born on October 13, 1924, a Friday, she always insisted that Friday, the 13th, was a special day. She grew up in the red hills of middle Georgia with her siblings, James “Sonny Boy” Bagby and Henrietta “Sissy” Lucas along with aunts, uncles and many cousins. Graduating high school at 15, she headed to Atlanta to enroll in and eventually graduate from business school.

While in Atlanta, she met the love of her life, James Noel Gainey, married in 1942 and during their 62-year marriage proudly welcomed three children and, in time, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to their family.

Sarah worked for the Florida Public Service Commission for 25 years and for Guy McKenzie, Sr., and McKenzie Tank Lines as Vice President of Personnel before retiring at age 70.

Sarah (with an H for the little bit of hell in me, she would say) will be remembered for a quick and clever wit, saucy personality and being always full of laughter with a smile that would light up the room. She enjoyed FSU football and basketball games — Go Noles! — and traveling and meeting people. She faced every obstacle in her life with the same grace, resilience and love. As a woman, mother and grandmother, she embodied the phrase “unconditional love,” and everyone she met felt loved and appreciated. She will be dearly missed.

Sarah is survived by her son, Dennis Noel Gainey, her daughter, Lisa Gainey, daughter-in-law Brenda Gainey (Donald Gainey), grand daughters, Donna Strickland and her husband Charlie Strickland, Susan Burton, great grandchildren Jessi, CJ, Abigail and Sarah Noel. She was preceded in death by her husband James, her son Donald Lee Gainey and her granddaughter Shana Marshall.

The Gainey Family will receive friends from 5:00pm until 7:00pm on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home, Timberlane Road Chapel. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, June 16, 2023 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Big Bend Hospice in memory of Sarah.