James F. Gibbs, 81, of the Salem community in Ben Hill County died Thursday, September 27, 2012, at Phoebe Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM, Sunday, September 30, 2012 at Salem Baptist Church, Ben Hill County, with the Rev. Brent Duncan, the Rev. Rex Johnson, and the Rev. Dudley Cook officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 Saturday evening at the funeral home.
Mr. Gibbs was born October 31, 1930 in Ben Hill County to the late Joseph Gibbs & Ora Haralson Gibbs. A life-long resident of Ben Hill County, Mr. Gibbs was a farmer. He was a member of Salem Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was a member of Pine Level Lodge #353 F.&A.M. where he recently was awarded his 50-year apron. He was also a member of the Hasan Shrine in Albany and a former member of the Ben Hill County Board of Tax Assessors.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years: Frances James Gibbs of Ben Hill County; daughter and son-in-law: Brenda & Larry Brown of Ben Hill County; son and daughter-in-law: Donnie & Dawn Gibbs of Ben Hill County; grandchildren and their spouses: Kristie B. & Mac Cleghorn, Kendall & Steven Boyd, Kelli Gibbs Ash, and Kole James Gibbs; great-grandchildren: Cam Cleghorn, Bree & Blaire Boyd, and Elli Ash; brother and sister-in-law: Calvin & Ruby Gibbs of Ben Hill County; and two sisters: Lillian Dowdy of Seville and Lina Perry of Lake Blackshear.