Deacon Gayden Harper is a native of Jackson, MS and the only child of Methodist parents, Ray and Jewel Harper, who relocated to Gulfport, MS when Gayden was a teenager. Deacon Gayden spent his high school years at Gulfport St. John's Catholic High School where, as a Junior, he was baptized by Rev. Msgr. Joseph Mercier and converted to Catholicism, was Confirmed by Bishop Richard Gerow and graduated in 1959. Upon graduation Deacon Gayden moved to Pascagoula, MS where he has resided since. Deacon Gayden is married to his high school sweetheart, Donna Ann Cutter of St. Thomas Parish in Long Beach, MS. Deacon Gayden and Donna have four Daughters, Rene, Michelle, Elizabeth and April who are all married. They have seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Deacon Gayden retired from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding as a Subcontracts Manager in 2007.

He began diaconal formation in 1998 for the Diocese of Biloxi, and after four years of study was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on July 6, 2002, by Bishop Thomas Rodi and assigned to St. Mary Parish in Gautier. Upon retirement from Northrop Grumman in 2007, Deacon Gayden accepted a staff position under Bishop Rodi as Director of the Diaconate, Director of Pastoral Services, and Director of Lay Personnel for the Diocese of Biloxi, where he served for 12 years under Bishop Rodi, Bishop Roger Morin and Bishop Louis Kihneman until his retirement on July 1, 2019.

Deacon Gayden was assigned to Our Lady of Victories Parish on January 1, 2011. His Diaconate Ordination motto is "Domine, ministerium tuum celebrandi vires renovatas me" (Lord, energize me in thy service). Deacon Gayden has completed over 360 hours of pastoral studies, theological studies and Church history, and has a Certificate of Completion of Pastoral Counseling Studies from Pontifical College Josephinum, and his current ministry is exclusively serving the parish family of Our Lady of Victories under the guidance of Pastor, Fr. Adam Urbaniak. His hobbies are cooking, reading, watching Hallmark Movies, saying "Yes, Ma'am" and "Yes, Father."