The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that George W. “Toby” Gaines, the longtime director of the historic Gaines Funeral Home in Larimer, died on Nov. 12. He was 76. The cause of his death was not revealed.
“Toby” Gaines’ father, George W. Gaines, established the Gaines Funeral Home in 1919 in Homestead. It was moved to the Larimer area a few years later, at the site of the former Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. Following George W. Gaines’ passing in 1953, his wife, Julia, took over the business, before “Toby” Gaines took over as director in 1980, with his mother as a partner.
In 2008, the historic Gaines Funeral Home property at 220 Auburn St. was shut down, and “Toby” Gaines joined forces with the House of Law Funeral Home Inc., on Frankstown Road in Penn Hills. “It was mutually beneficial for both of us,” recalled Dwight M. Law, House of Law Funeral Director and Supervisor, in an exclusive interview with the Courier, Nov. 19. “The Gaines name was certainly one of the giants in the industry, and he brought with him not only a level of professionalism and compassion, he was a dear friend of mine as well. We’re going to miss him and the City of Pittsburgh will miss him, for the Gaines name was one of the forerunners of the funeral industry in Pittsburgh.”
On June 6, 2011, a fire completely destroyed the Gaines Funeral Home building on Auburn Street. In an interview with the Courier at the time, “Toby” Gaines said he had been in the building almost daily since he was a child. However, it might have been a sign from God telling him to move on, as reported by former Courier staff writer Christian Morrow.
“My grandfather, Rev. George W. Gaines founded the first school for African-Americans in Suffolk, Va., in the late 1800s. It was burned to the ground. But he went on to found the First Baptist Church of Suffolk. And this fire now allows me to focus on my ministry. When God closes one door, He opens another,” “Toby” Gaines said to Morrow.
“Toby” Gaines was ordained as a Deacon on Dec. 16, 2000. At the time of his passing, he served as a Deacon at All Saints Parish. He previously served at Saint Paul Cathedral Parish, Saint Gregory Parish, Saint Matthias Parish, Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen Parish, and most recently at Concordia Lutheran Ministries.
“He was a very good person, very dedicated person to his friends and church,” said Odell Robinson III, Funeral Director for the Robinson Funeral Home, North Side. “He would give you the shirt off his back. He’s like my big brother. That’s how close we were,” Robinson told the Courier exclusively, Nov. 19.
The connection between the Robinson and Gaines families is very palpable. George W. Gaines, who started the business, gave Robinson’s father, Odell Robinson Jr., an internship at the Gaines Funeral Home in 1947 or 1948, according to Odell Robinson III. That gave Odell Robinson Jr. the impetus to start his own funeral home in 1950, at 614 Taylor Avenue, North Side.
Odell Robinson III was there when his friend, “Toby,” made a run for Pittsburgh City Council in the late ’70s. He recalled how influential the Gaines family was, rubbing shoulders with the “Who’s Who” of Pittsburgh and Black America, and how innovative the Gaines family was.
“Every funeral home that exists today,” Odell Robinson III told the Courier, “they took something from the Gaines Funeral Home.”
“Toby” Gaines is survived by his wife, Nicole, and their children, Kelli, Ryan and Julia. Visitation is set for Sunday, Nov. 24, from 2 to 6 p.m., at Robinson Funeral Home, 2025 Perrysville Ave. Homegoing service is set for Monday, Nov. 25, at 9:30 a.m., at Most Precious Blood of Jesus Church, 3250 California Ave. Burial will follow at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies at 1 p.m. Condolences may be sent to The Gaines Family, 200 Wilderness Trail, Evans City, Pa., 16033.
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