Ira Harold “Knocker” Gibbs, Jr., 71, of Brookfield passed away peacefully on Monday, July 19, 2021, at Regency Hospital in Macon surrounded by his family. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 22, 2021, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Joseph L. Crumley officiating. Mr. Gibbs will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of the service.
Knocker was born December 11, 1949, in Tifton to Mildred Crumley Gibbs and the late Harold Gibbs. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Kerri Alison Gibbs. He was a lifelong resident of Tift County. He attended Brookfield Baptist Church and graduated from Tift County High School in 1968.
Following graduation, Knocker joined his father working the family farm. He continued to farm most of his life. He was an avid outdoorsman and spent as much time as he could with friends and family at hunting camps and the family fish camp at Suwanee. Knocker loved telling stories of his adventures over the years. And he was the best storyteller! He never met a stranger and always flashed a smile that would light up a room.
In addition to his mother, Knocker is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Julie Gibbs; his wife, Belinda Gibbs; his grandchildren, Lucy, Mary Charles and Sara Gibbs; his sisters and brother-in-law, Rose Cooksey and Becky and Tim Wiggins; and his stepchildren, Becky and David Bedenbaugh and Timmy Newmans.