Charles Gaines ’53 ’54

Charles Gaines ’53 ’54 died Nov. 11, 2018. He was 86. Charles studied music at Illinois Wesleyan, where he was active in many music-related organizations and professional societies, and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at IWU. He taught elementary school music and managed church music programs in Illinois and, later, New York, while he pursued a doctorate from Union Theological Society. Charles began his academic career at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, in 1965. He remained chair of the school’s department of fine arts until shortly before his retirement in 1998. He also served as director of music for the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton and the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, South Carolina, and founded and directed the Laurens County (S.C.) Chorale. Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford conferred The Order of the Silver Crescent, the South Carolina Legislature recognized his leadership in a proclamation, and the mayor of Greenwood later proclaimed June 15, 2012 as Charles T. Gaines Day. Charles is survived by his wife Jean (Reichert) Gaines ’53, three children, including Deborah (Gaines) Abbott ’76 and Betsy (Gaines) Bone ’82, and eight grandchildren.

 

 

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