Mary Caines

Mary Ellen “Dicki” Bass Caines, 83, went to be with the Lord on May 4, 2021. Funeral services will be held on Monday May 10, 2021 at St. Luke United Methodist Church at 2:30pm with burial to follow at Buffalo Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 12:30-2pm in the parlor at St. Luke United Methodist Church. Born in Fayetteville, NC on March 30, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Ertha Anderson Bass and Euna Earle Upchurch Williams. She was the step-daughter of the late Sherwood Williams.  Dicki was a 1956 graduate of Dunn High School in Dunn, NC.  Then, she started a life filled with travel, work, and lots of love. In the early years, she worked in the administration office at East Carolina University and as a bank teller in Carolina Beach and Raleigh. While dancing one night at Williams Lake, NC, she met the late Gene Austin Caines. They were married on a snowy January 29th in 1961 and remained together until Gene’s untimely death May 4, 1990. Their married years took them to Colorado Springs, CO, Fayetteville, NC, Salisbury, NC, Richmond, VA, Columbia, SC, and finally Sanford, NC. They welcomed their son Gregory Austin Caines in 1967 and daughter Megan Dee-El Caines in 1971.  In Sanford, Dicki worked at Carolina Sporting Goods and at various beauty salons as a receptionist. In 1983, she became a certified color analyst and started her business “ColorMagic.” In the mid-’90s, she moved to Cherry Grove, SC. Her love of people, her bright smile, and her flair for fashion were best witnessed through her years as a hostess around North Myrtle Beach, SC at Chase’s Place, Duffy Street, The Surf Golf and Beach Club, and Bonefish Grill. She is survived by her son Greg (Janice) of Lexington, SC and daughter Dee-El of Sanford, NC; the favorite grandson Hunter Cloninger and the blessing of beautiful granddaughters Mary Chapman Caines; Adair, Grace and Anna Claire Day; sister Linda Williams McPhail (Gus) of Hope Mills, NC; sisters in law Nelda Caines Lane (Carmen) of Candor and Velda Caines Ledbetter of Myrtle Beach, SC; and many special nieces and nephews. She will be missed by many that have called her Mrs. Dicki and Gigi over the years. Dicki was inducted into the Shagger’s Hall of Fame in February of 2016, was a member of the Wolfpack Club for over 45 years, and served on the board of Tilghman Lakes By the Sea. She taught Sunday School and was a member of First Baptist Church in Sanford. She later moved her membership to St. Luke UMC in Sanford. Over the years, she played a lot of bridge and tennis with friends; planted, grew and enjoyed her flowers; cheered for N.C. State Wolfpack; walked on the beach and found sharks teeth with her grandchildren; sat on the porch reading books; traveled to many amazing places and picked up seashells by the seashore.  “It is a good thing to give thanks.” Psalm 92:1  Lord, we thank you for all the wonderful moments and memories shared with our mom, sister, Gigi, friend, and Aunt. -Amen  The family would like to thank the staff of Liberty Commons for their support and care during mom’s time there and especially in her final days. Alzheimer’s Assn, A Ride to Remember, 4124 Clemson Blvd, Suite L, Anderson, SC 29621; or to St Luke United Methodist Church, The ARK Ministry at 2916 Wicker St, Sanford, NC 27330.