Sara Bowen Gibbs, 91, died Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at Maple Court Senior Residence. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2012 in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church. Dr. W. Ches Smith II and Dr. Wayne Roe will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Frank McGill, Evan Gibbs, Sam Blackburn, Dan Rakestraw, Greg Sowell, Jerry Flannery, Mike Bland, Greg Crumley and H. C. Medford will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 20, 2012, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Ms. Gibbs was born on November 24, 1920 in Ty Ty and was the daughter of Earl Daniel Gibbs and Stella Helen Bowen Gibbs, both deceased. Ms. Gibbs graduated from Ty Ty High School and attended Georgia State Women’s College in Valdosta. She graduated from the University of Georgia, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She taught mathematics at Tifton Junior High School for many years, where she received the professional honor of “Teacher of the Year” for Tifton schools. Earlier in her career, she also worked for AT&T in Atlanta and for Roddenberry Hardware Company in Tifton.
Ms. Gibbs was an active and long-time member of the First Baptist Church in Tifton. She served as Associate Superintendent for the Junior Department and also taught in the junior department for over 40 years. She was a member of the Open Door Sunday school class and the Women’s Missionary Union, serving as treasurer of the organization.
Ms. Gibbs is survived by cousins, Charlotte Gibbs Ponder, Gloria Saxon Flannery, Sandy Saxon, Evelyn Cottle Rigdon, William Thomas Gibbs, Helen Gibbs Shannon, and her special friend, Sancil Holder.
Memorial gifts may be made to Forward in Faith Building Fund, First Baptist Church of Tifton, 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794.