Nora Louise White Gaines, age 97, passed away on July 16, 2022, at Magnolia Estates, Elberton, GA. Before living at Magnolia Estates, Mrs. Gaines resided at The Gables, Royston, GA, having moved there from her farm in Canon, GA, where she resided for many years.

Mrs. Gaines was born in Hartwell, GA, on January 2, 1925, the daughter of the late Blanche Busby White and Elbert Vandiver White. She was married to the late Vandiver Brown Gaines.

She was a graduate of Hartwell High School and Athens Business College. As a member of Bethesda United Methodist Church, she served on many committees, taught Sunday School, and was the church historian. She retired from Johnson & Johnson Baby Products in Royston, GA, and was active in the Royston Retiree's Group as long as health permitted.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Mrs. Gaines was preceded in death by her son, Ricky Gaines; grandson, Andrew Vandiver Gaines; daughters-in-law, Terri Gentry Gaines and Jean Evans Gaines; brothers, Neal, Billy, Chandler, Eddie, and Marion White; sisters-in-law, Martha Vickery White, Sarah Fleming White, and Sara Chastain White, and brother-in-law, Edward Skelton.

She is survived by her daughter, Sherry (Ben Layne) Gaines, Chattanooga, TN, sons, Bobby Gaines, Canon, GA, Ken (Barb Anderson) Gaines, Columbia, SC, and Chandler (Michelle) Gaines, Gainesville, GA; brother, Noel (Betty Shaw) White, Franklin, NC, sister, Barbara Skelton (Mark) Temples, Hartwell, GA, and sister-in-law, Beverly Huff White, Peachtree City, GA.

Mrs. Gaines was a loving "Nana" to her grandchildren, Debbie (Ronnie) Watkins, Athens, GA, Richard (Kim) Gaines, Bethlehem, GA, Ricky Dale (Jennifer) Gaines, Hartwell, GA, Regina Gaines, Canon, GA, Jim Gaines, Canon, GA, Traci (David) Hornick, Hartwell, GA, Dan (Michelle) Gaines, Canon, GA, Tyler (Mary Darby) Layne, Nashville, TN, Tom (Amy) Gaines, Fort Mill, SC, and Kate (Pete) Gindhart, Columbia, SC, and step-grandchildren, Bethany (Josh Thraikill) Kirkland, Dahlonega, GA, Joshua (Taylor) Kirkland, Oakwood, GA, Jacob Kirkland, Dawsonville, GA, and Jeffrey Andrew (Giana) Kirkland, Sr., Winder, GA. She is survived by twenty-six great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Gaines loved nothing better than family gatherings. Her love of family led her to organize the Busby-White reunion for many years, bringing together a large family. While she has mourned the death of many cousins, nieces, and nephews, she will be missed by those surviving her, including nieces and nephews who she loved as if they were her children.

Likewise, Mrs. Gaines cherished friendships, staying in touch with friends from childhood and continuing to forge new friendships throughout her life wherever she went. Through her giving and loving nature, she touched many lives. She leaves behind friends too numerous to name individually.

The family will receive friends at Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. prior to funeral services for Mrs. Gaines to be held at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Strickland Funeral Home with Rev. Winfred Pitts and Michele May officiating. Burial will follow at Bethesda United Methodist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethesda United Methodist Church, 352 Bethesda Church Rd, Hartwell, GA 30643.

The Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell is in charge of arrangements.