Former NK School Board member succumbs

Cynthia L. Gaines, a member of the first elected school board in New Kent County, died Sunday, March 17.

The Rev. Dr. Gaines, 61, served three terms on the New Kent board starting in 1995 when Virginia made the change from appointed to elected boards. That year, she defeated Will Wallace 579-273 in the race for the District 3 seat.

She won reelection in 1999 and 2003, running unopposed both times. While in office, she served several one-year terms as the board’s chairman and vice-chairman.

In January 2007, she announced plans to retire, but changed her mind and submitted voter signature petitions just before the June filing deadline that year. Unfortunately, her petitions did not contain the required number of registered voter signatures from District 3 and she was not certified as a candidate. She embarked on a write-in campaign, only to be challenged by Leigh Quick, the current District 3 representative who won the seat by a 206-101 margin.

Among her survivors are her husband, Frankie Gaines, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.