Margaret White Gaines

Forty years ago, the Rome News Tribune featured an interview with Margret Gaines, entitled “Banking Woman Sees Opportunities (Becky Brackett). The essence of the article, in Mrs. Gaines own words, was that she would always ‘encourage women to advance to their full potential and to the level they desired’. This impetus remained a strong focus throughout her life. Upon retirement from banking, she and her daughter Carol, herself a watercolorist, assumed ownership of an art cooperative called “The Galleries.” The two women were successful in promoting northwest Georgia artists artisans, some whom were nationally and internationally recognized.

Mrs. Gaines was on the board of directors for Heritage Holidays, and the executive board of the Northwest Georgia Girl Scouts. She was a board member of PRIDE (Promoting Rome by Improving Downtown Environment) and the United Way. She was a member of the National Association of Bank Women, the Women in Management Committee, director and member of the Rome Area Arts Council, and vice chairman of the Rome Tourist and Convention Commission.

She is pre-deceased by her husband, William and her daughter, Carol. Survivors include daughters, Anita Mounts, Laurie Andrade (Ravi) and son-in-law, Bill Summer; grandchildren, Will Summer (Heather), Katie Summer-Nelson (Kris), Joseph Andrade and John Andrade; great-grandchildren, Maggie Summer, Lily Summer, Gage Lemaster and Charlie Nelson.

Interment will be a private graveside gathering.

How often a radiant firecracker subdues itself into a soft candlelit good-bye.