Mr. Australia Gaines

Australia Gaines, affectionately known as Gainesy, Brother-N-Law and Stra, born
December 27, 1949, in Leon County, Florida, was the baby boy of twelve children of
the late Mr. Scott Gaines, Sr and Mrs. Henrietta Davis Gaines. Australia departed
this life peacefully Monday, June 19,2023 at 12:45 pm in Gastonia, North Carolina.

At an early age, he accepted Christ and joined New Bethlehem Primitive Baptist
Church in Tallahassee, Florida. During those years, he enjoyed singing in the choir
and ushering under the leadership of Pastor Jeremiah Gee. He was educated in the
public schools of Leon County, Tallahassee, Florida and expanded to New Jersey for
better opportunities upon graduation. Once he moved to New Jersey, he joined the
Beauty Grove Baptist Church under the leadership of Elder D. F. Palmer and Elder
Clemson Leach where he served as a member of the Beauty Lites Choir.

His life would change forever in the Summer of 1970 when he met the love of his life,
Necie Ophelia Patton, during a visit to his brother's house. Four years later on
Christmas Day of 1974, Australia and Necie were married and enjoyed more than 48
years of marriage until he fell ill. Australia and Necie raised two beautiful children,
Monica and Australia D’Andrey.

He was employed 32 years as a Tire Mechanic at Waste Management in Trenton, New
Jersey until he retired in June 2020. He may have been looked upon as self-centered
but he loved all...don’t let him see a fellow worker of WM, his Waste Management
community, he would get so bubbly and filled with joy to know that they shared a
genuine support for the community as a whole.

His love for all spilled over to his family especially his great-grands. He was a very
kind man with a big heart and lived for having a good time. If you were not ready to
party, he made you party with that infectious smile and offerings of his favorite
spirit, Tanqueray. He WAS the ultimate SOCIAL BUTTERFLY. If Stra was not at
home, he was at work or at one of his favorite neighborhood bars.

He will be sorely missed by all but is now united with all his family and friends that
preceded him in death specifically his parents, Mr. Scott Gaines, Sr and Mrs.

Henrietta Davis Gaines, and his siblings Scott Gaines, Ernest Gaines, James Gaines,
Sylvester Gaines, Thedore Gaines, Robert Gaines, Leroy Gaines and Ruby Gaines.
Those left to cherish and celebrate his loving memories are his wife Necie Ophelia
Gaines of Charlotte, North Carolina, his daughter Monica (Michael) Miller of
Charlotte, North Carolina, his son Australia D’Andrey (Alexis) Gaines of Trenton,
New Jersey, eight grandchildren, Kyisha (Chad) Hidgon, Bayshawn Martin, Tyrell
McDuffie, Kelly McDuffie and Nyasia Gaines all of Charlotte, North Carolina, Daejah
Gaines, Essence Gaines, and Melia Gaines all of Trenton, New Jersey, twelve
great-grands Nasir Gaines, Nevaeh Higdon, Chad Higdon, Jr, Shyra McDuffie, Nyla
Higdon, Tarone McDuffie, Kyion McDuffie, Nova Eison, and Bayshawn Martin, Jr.,
all of Charlotte, North Carolina, Andre’ McMullen, Jr., and Ameiriss Rowell both of
Trenton, New Jersey, and Aliyah McDuffie of Nuremberg, Germany, two brothers
Willie James (Barbara) Gaines of Tallahassee, Florida and Augustus (Vernell) Gaines
of Trenton, New Jersey, one sister Avery (Willie) Gallon of Tallahassee, Florida, two
nieces raised as sisters Gloria Henderson and Deloris Sawyer both of Tallahassee,
Florida, a nephew raised as brother Willie James Gaines of Macon, Georgia, a
special nephew Leroy ‘Tony’ (Loretta) Gaines of Tampa, Florida, two God daughters
Cheryl Henderson and Desiree Denison both of Trenton, New Jersey, a host of
nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.