Vanell S Gaines

A funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Morgan Funeral Chapel with Bro. Bobby Bryant officiating. Visitation will take place from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service. Mrs. Gaines will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Vanell was a proud graduate of Gaylesville High School and Gadsden Business College. She dedicated her professional life to public service, retiring in 2003 as the Director of Personnel for the Georgia State Merit System. Her strong work ethic and commitment to excellence left a lasting impact on the state she served.

Outside of her career, Vanell had a deep passion for interior decorating and gardening—talents she used to create a warm and beautiful home for herself and her beloved husband, Donald. Her creativity, attention to detail, and love for beauty were evident in every space she touched.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Pearlie Slayton, and her six older siblings: Thelma Wells, Milbourn Slayton, Bill Slayton, Donnie Fay Mobbs, Ernest Slayton, and Earl Slayton. As the youngest of her siblings, Vanell held a special place in the hearts of her family.

Vanell is survived by her devoted husband of 65 years, Donald H. Gaines; her cherished cousins, Jan Gore and Jo Cothran; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to her caregivers, Tonya and Stephanie, for their compassionate care and support.