Sylvia Marie Nelson Gainey, 76, of Clements, MD, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Born on November 5, 1948, in Leonardtown, MD, she was the eighth of fifteen children born to the late James Andrew "Toots" Nelson and the late Beatrice Tennyson Nelson. Sylvia was the loving wife of William Henry "Bill" Gainey, whom she married on November 18, 1974, in Leonardtown, MD; together they celebrated 50 years of marriage.

In addition to her husband, Sylvia is survived by her daughters, Donna Miedzinski (Wayne) of Hollywood, MD and Billie Jo Weiland (Duane) of Clements, MD, her siblings, Joseph "Freddie" (Mary), John Ira "Dink", Thomas Allen "Sam" (Carolyn), Brenda Nelson Caywood (Charles, dec.), Kenneth "Ken" (Betty Lou), Robert "Wayne" (Gloria), Wallace "Wally" (Ellen), Rita Nelson Buckler (Robert), Rose Nelson Roth, and Tina Nelson Bowles (Tommy), as well as three grandsons, Timmy Miedzinski, Shawn Miedzinski (Stephanie), and Christopher Weiland. She was preceded in death by her siblings, James Maguire "Mop Jack" (Dorothy, dec.), Francis Leroy "Bubba" (Lori), Charles Bernard "Banjo" Nelson, and Mary Janet "Jody" Nelson Gray (Elmer, dec.).

Sylvia was part of the first graduating class of Chopticon High School in 1966. She retired from the U.S. Government after 42 years of service as a contract specialist. Sylvia returned to work as a federal contractor, until her death. She enjoyed helping her sisters with catering and working in the kitchen at the annual corn maze.

Sylvia was known for her kindness, love for life, and her smile and laughter. She was one of a kind and was well-known for sending cards for all occasions with scratch offs to all her family and friends. Sylvia loved to find treasures for everyone at yard sales every Saturday, her weekly pitch playing with family, and her love for Isabelle's cakes. She spent many years on the ball field as a catcher and learned to hit left-handed to keep the ball out of the tobacco fields at Deep Falls Farm. But, most of all, Sylvia loved spending time with her family and especially adored her three grandsons--- "her babies."

The family will receive friends on Monday, January 20, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with prayers recited at 7:00 PM, in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, Mechanicsville, MD, with Father Chip Luckett officiating. Interment will follow at Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Serving as pallbearers will be Timmy Miedzinski, Shawn Miedzinski, Wayne Miedzinski, Duane Weiland, Bobby Buckler, and Trey Bowles. The honorary pallbearer will be Christopher Weiland.

Contributions may be made to the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 299, Leonardtown, MD 20650.