Momma was born on September 25, 1946 to Ovie and T.C. Gaines.  She was always a caretaker and always helped her mother with the younger children.  When she was born, times were hard, and she was raised to do the best she could with what God had provided.  She grew up in Harrodsburg, and Daddy(Marvin Smith) family lived across the street.  I remember countless stories of her and Aunt Tricia(daddy's sister) running around and going to the fair and Momma told me when she was 12; she was staying with a woman and babysat the ladies' kids and the house caught on fire, the lady ran out leaving her 2 kids, and Momma ran back into the house and got them both out.  Even at a young age, she was always taking care of others.  She told me when she and Aunt Tricia were around 14, they were riding around with 2 boys; and they took them out Dry Branch Road(i think) and told them to put out or get out; her and Aunt Tricia got out went and got 2 big sticks and were hitting the boys with them and then her and Aunt Tricia spent the night at some farmhouse and had to ride back to town on the milk truck the next day.  My Momma was definitely one of a kind and i am proud to be like her in alot of ways.   when i was little my Nanny (Ovie Gaines) used to call me LIL GRACIE and when i remember that it always brings a smile to my face.  If i am a tenth the woman my Momma was I will be very happy.  She always called my niece(Heather Derringer) LIL LISA; so the apples didnt fall far from the tree so to speak.  Heather and I are both PROUD TO BE LIKE HER!!!!  IN THAT WE SPEAK OUR MIND, which sometimes we know we should keep our mouths closed (ha!!).  Even after having a hard childhood, Momma never complained, she always made the best of it all.  A lesson we all should learn in our lives.  She knew God wouldn't give us more than we could handle and that he gives his STRONGEST SOLDIERS THE MOST.