Chesapeake educator gets touching surprise

By Jocelyn Syrstad

PORTSMOUTH

When Jerry Gaines walked into Grove Baptist Church on Saturday, he was greeted with a standing ovation.

The nearly 150 guests weren't there for a book signing for Gaines' newly released "40 Stories High," even though he was under that impression.

And they weren't there to celebrate that Gaines was the first black athlete to attend Virginia Tech on a full scholarship or that he was the first African American elected to the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.

They came to celebrate the man who changed the lives of many during his 39-year high school teaching and coaching career at Western Branch and Great Bridge in Chesapeake.

And when Gaines realized all those people were there simply to show their appreciation for him, he bowed his head and began to cry, covering his mouth in disbelief as the guests continued to applaud.

"He cared more about his students and coworkers than anyone I have ever crossed in my life," former student and athlete Jamie Dodd said. "He had a way of connecting with students and allowing them to do more than they ever thought was possible. He's truly unique."

Gaines, a 1967 graduate of Churchland High School, spent 29 years as a Spanish teacher at Western Branch before moving to Great Bridge as an assistant principal for the last 10 years of his career. He retired in November at the age of 61.

His book, which was released Saturday, is an accumulation of stories surrounding the lives of 40 of his students. The book describes the real life events that those individuals faced and how Gaines was there in the midst of it all.

Jerry Gaines' former students organized Saturday's tribute, which included speakers - friends, family, former students - a slideshow, and an opportunity for Gaines to mingle with everyone. Gaines never made a formal speech to the guests, but was available to talk casually afterwards.

Surrounded by his wife, Theresa, and his children, Gaines sat in the front row of the church and listened to nearly a dozen speakers share their appreciation for him.

Former students described how much he cared about them, saying Gaines would send letters to them - and continues to send them - decades after they graduated. He was invested in their well-being, not only during their four years of high school, but as long as they were willing to keep him a part of their lives.

Becky Neal, a 1987 graduate of Western Branch, called on him years later to pray with her and her family when her 18-month-old daughter had a tumor in her stomach.

Former athletes explained how he encouraged and pushed them to be better than they thought they could be.

In the late 1980s, Dodd had cut his right foot in half in a motorcycle accident and was told by orthopedic surgeons that he would never be able to play sports again. But he tried out for the cross-country team anyway.

With the help of Gaines, who constantly reminded that all things were possible, Dodd became the No. 1 runner on the team and earned a scholarship to Brevard College in North Carolina.

Not everyone is blessed to have a teacher they love and who loves them with all of his heart, Gaines' daughter Jina noted.

"My brother, what he's done is tremendous," Jack Gaines said. "He has encouraged so many throughout the years and has invested his time in people.

Because of that, he has a tremendous amount of wealth in his life."

Jocelyn Syrstad, 757-446-2039, jocelyn.syrstad@pilotonline.com