Brother Carl E. Gaines was born in Battle Creek, Tennessee on September 18, 1936 to Fern Payne and Lawrence Rice.  He was raised by his foster mother Mrs. Laura Gaines. When he was junior in high school, he obeyed the Gospel of Christ under the late Evangelist C.L. Caperton at East Third Street Church of Christ in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He preached his first sermon in 1953.  He graduated from Howard High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1954. He went on to attend Southwestern Christian College (SWCC) in Terrell Texas and received an Associate of Arts degree(1956). He later received a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Arizona in Tucson Arizona(1969). He later received a Master of Social Work from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana(1990). He received a recognition certificate from the Louisiana Geriatric Education Center in Gerontological Social Work(1991).

He preached the gospel for 70 plus years with many interesting and mind boggling experiences.  He served as president of the Southwestern Christian College National Alumni Association, Executive Director of the South Park Avenue Council while in Tucson, Arizona.  He is responsible for the creation of the Gulf Coast Sing-a-rama, the Gulf Coast Lectureship and the Louisiana State Youth Conference.

He served as minister of congregations in Crandall, Texas; St. Luke Church of Christ, Tyler, Texas; Muskogee, Oklahoma; Tucson, Arizona; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Lake Charles, Louisiana.  He spoke at several lectureships, including the Pan American Lectureship in Trinidad.

He was joined in compiling and co-editing Black Preachers of Today, Volume I, by his good friend and fellow laborer, Brother John C. Whitley.  He has conducted gospel meetings and workshops in various cities and established congregations in Alabama and Louisiana.  He preached on the radio each Sunday for many years.

He wrote several articles in the following publications: North Hampton Times in Cape Charles, Virginia; The Black Dispatch in Muskogee, Oklahoma; and the News Leader in Lake Charles, Louisiana

He married Eva L. Worthy on May 19, 1956 and remained married until his passing.  He served four years in the Untied States Air Force(1956-1960)

In 1970, he became the minister of the Mill Street Church of Christ in Lake Charles, Louisiana and he remained the minister until his retirement in 2013.

He was preceded in death by his foster/adoptive mother, Mrs. Laura Gaines, his sisters and brothers; Willard Maxwell, Josephine McCory, Milie Williams, Ruby Searcie, Beulah Edwards, Beatrice Franklin, Randolph Gaines, R.Z. (Tom) Gaines, and Robert Laster Gaines.

He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Eva L. Gaines his children, Beverly Gaines Cole (TX), Deborah Gaines (TX), Karla Gaines (TX), and David (Joyce)Gaines (TX).  He also leaves his grandchildren Quinnetia Gaines Brown, KeShawna Cole, David Gaines Jr., Carl Gaines II, Quintessa Jackson, Quiesha Gaines, Keith Gaines, Kivon (Mahagony) Gaines, Antoinette Campbell, Veronica Gaines, Laceria(Lucretia) Gaines, and a host of nieces, nephews, great and great great grandchildren, and a host of other loving relatives and friends.