Rev. John S. Gibbs, Sr., 76, of Tifton, died Monday, January 15, 2007, at Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2007, in the First Baptist Church of Ty Ty. Rev. Danny Jones and Rev. Larry Layfield will officiate with a eulogy to be given by Rev. John S. Gibbs, Jr. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Ronald Dorman, Clinton Moore and grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Buddy Gentry, Tommy Land, Sr., Ed Cleghorn, Rev. Danny Ray, Bobby Miles, Fincher Matthews, George Medford, John Lindsey, Edd Walker, Rev. Eddie Allen, Guy Evans, Chuck Yzenski and Rex Johnson. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Rev. Gibbs was born on June 13, 1930 in Ty Ty (Tift County) and was the son of Carl Gibbs and Lucy Sikes Gibbs, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Meg Gibbs. Rev. Gibbs was a retired minister of Calvary Baptist Church after 33 years. He was a former member of the Kiwanis Club of Tifton and founder and director of Brother Charlie's Rescue Center for 14 years. In his retirement, he pastored several churches in South Georgia and, for the last 4 years, has been pastor of Arp Baptist Church in Irwin County.
Rev. Gibbs is survived by his wife, Betty Bennett Gibbs of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Rev. John S. Gibbs, Jr. and his wife, Nancy, of Ocilla and David Gibbs and his wife, Kristy, of Tifton; and five grandchildren, John S. "Evan" Gibbs III, Megan Gibbs, Bennett Gibbs, Blair French and Lane French.
Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Gideons or your favorite charity.