Reba Cedonia Roberts Gaines of Laurel, Delaware passed away on Sunday, September 28, 2014 at Seaford Genesis. She was 98. She was born on April 18, 1916 in Laurel, the daughter of the late John Bruce Roberts and Lillie Mae Truitt Roberts. She was the proud wife of Leroy Gaines for twenty-one years until his passing in 1980. Reba received her education at the Historical Ross Point School and Paul Lawrence Dunbar School both in Laurel. She was employed as a Field Worker, Domestic Worker, and worked in a local poultry plant. Her hobbies included writing poems, working with her flowers, and singing. She attended the Laurel Senior Center. Known as Aunt Reba, Mother Reba and Cousin Reba to many, her family tree runs through and through in Sussex County, Delaware. She was a member of St. John A.M.E. Zion Church (Ross Point) all of her life. Reba was active in the Woman’s Home Overseas Missionary Society of The AME Zion Church, sang with the church choir, served as a Conference Delegate to the Philadelphia Baltimore Annual Conference, and attended Sunday School and church regularly until her health no longer allowed her to attend. However she looked forward to outings to afternoon services, especially for the singing and preached word, and going out to eat afterward. On April 26, 2014 she was recognized at the Philadelphia Eastern Shore Lay Council Banquet where family and friends attended in honor and love for her, “O Happy Day”. Reba also sang with a choir named Voice of Churches. Cousin Reba always had a song on her heart and would start singing whenever familiar words were spoken. Of course that meant all who were present couldn’t help but join in the singing. No one could sing, “I Want to Be Ready” like Cousin Reba, she loved singing the lead verses. Her testimonial song was, “I Love the Lord and I Won’t Take it Back”. She loved the Lord and at age 98, she still had a heart to serve and share, in the name of Jesus. Her favorite scripture was Psalm 23 and her favorite song was “Yes, God is Real”. Reba is survived by a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Roberts of Laurel, adopted daughters, Barbara Purnell, Melissa Smith, Elder Ida Giles, all of Seaford, a special niece, Pearline (Warren) White of Salisbury, a son, Jeffrey Smiley of Salisbury, an adopted son, John Edward Oney, Jr. of Monticello, NY, a grandson Jeffrey Smiley, II of Union City, GA, and his children, Jayla and Jalen Smiley, and several other nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by five siblings, Harold Roberts, Paul Roberts, Oliver Roberts, William (Bill) Roberts and Verda Roberts. Funeral services will be held 12:00 noon on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at St. John A.M.E. Zion Church at Ross Point with Pastor Ida Ositelu officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. A visitation will be held on Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Share memories with the family at www.framptom.com.
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