Calvin Gibbs, 89, of Ben Hill County, died Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Phoebe Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald.
Funeral services will be held 3 PM, Tuesday, August 20, 2013, at Salem Baptist Church, Ben Hill County, with the Rev. Brent Duncan and the Rev. Tommy Land, Jr. officiating. His son and daughter-in-law: Rev. Roy and Nancy Gibbs will give eulogies. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 Monday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Gibbs was born July 25, 1924, in Ben Hill County, Georgia, to the late Joseph and Ora Haralson Gibbs. A lifelong resident of Ben Hill County, he served his country honorably during World War II in the United States Army. He was a farmer and a former employee of Dekalb Swine Breeders. Mr. Gibbs was an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting and fishing as well as growing a bountiful garden, often sharing vegetables and fruits with his friends and neighbors. He was a long-time member of Salem Baptist Church, a deacon for over 50 years, and a member of the Adult Men’s Sunday school class. He was formerly active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Cordele, the Woodmen of the World, and was a Mason.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years: Ruby Gibbs of Ben Hill County; daughter and son-in-law: Shirley & Gary Gaines of Ben Hill County; son and daughter-in-law: Rev. Roy & Nancy Gibbs of Cordele; grandchildren: Ronald & Kay Huckaby of Statesboro, Rhonda & Tracy Paulk of Ocilla, Brad & Amy Gibbs of Atlanta, Chad & Lucy Gibbs of Brooks, and Becky & Brian Galyean of Gainesville; great-grandchildren: Hannah Gibbs, Katelyn Gibbs, Kristen Paulk, Rebecca Paulk, Halle Galyean, Brody Galyean, Ford Calvin Gibbs, Claire Gibbs, Travis Mangelinks, and Noel Burn; and two sisters: Lillian Dowdy of Seville and Lina Perry of Lake Blackshear. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a great-grandson: Joey Huckaby and a brother: James F. Gibbs.