Janet Joyce Gaines

Janet Joyce Jacobs-Gaines was born on March 9th, 1936 In Forney, Kaufman County, Texas to Walter and Rosie Helen Duffey-Jacobs. She was the eldest child born to this union. When she was five the family moved to Fort Worth, Texas where Janet attended Como Elementary and Middle Schools. At the age of thirteen, Janet moved to Bakersfield, CA to help take care of her Grandmother, Cora Duffey. While in California she attended Kern Union High School. She was married to the late Louis Gaines.

Throughout Janet's young adult life she spent time traveling, dancing and enjoying the Blues and Jazz Ensemble Circuits across America. In her mid-twenties, Janet found her true calling; a calling that extended until the day she transitioned. Janet, although she never gave birth to any children, became surrogate mother and caretaker to several generations of children throughout the branches of her family. She loved to cook and bake for everyone who crossed her path. Janet had a zest for life and shared her smile, good nature and contagious laughter with everyone she encountered. She enjoyed watching old black and white classic movies, reading articles about current events and being surrounded by her loved ones. It is painful for us to let her go from this life but, we look forward with trust and faith that we will join her in the next.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband Louis Gaines, mother, Rosie Helen Dufffey-Jacobs, father, Walter Jacobs, brothers, John Henry Duffey, David Jacobs, Howard Jacobs and Dwight Jacobs. She leaves to cherish her memory and legacy of giving and kindness, her brothers, Walter Lee Jacobs and Albert M. Jacobs; sister, Darlene H. Jacobs-Bowers and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and many cousins for which she served as a surrogate mother at some point in their lives. She was the living version of Shel Silverstein's "Giving Tree".