James W. Gibbs Sr., left myriad of offspring
James W. Gibbs Sr., 101, of Georgetown, departed this life into the peaceful and loving arms of Christ Jesus Our Savior Sunday, Aug 30, 2015, at home. He was born July 9, 1914, in Engelhard, N.C. He was the son of the late William and Cora Gibbs.
He met the love of his life, Ola Mann, working in the cotton and tobacco fields in North Carolina. They were married May 14, 1936. They later moved to Delaware with five of their 11 children. He was well known all over the world because of his kindness, and living the best of his life at the age of 101. They moved the family to a place called the big house as known where all the North Carolina people lived. There he found his first job at Townsend’s pulp wood, then he went to work in different fields after that. He worked for Swift Company in Georgetown for 30 years, then he went to worked for Bunting Nursery in Selbyville, for 30 years,
He retired, and after that he also worked for private workers. He loved his gardens, and growing collard greens and planting trees and his grapevines, and also he like cooking his favorite foods, cornbread and cabbages. He was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and a great-great-great-grandfather through five generations. Dad will sadly be missed, but not forgotten. We will always remember the good times, He was the only survivor that lived.
He is preceded in death by his wife Ola Gibbs; and two son Wilbert and James Gibbs Jr.; his parents William and Cora Gibbs; his brothers David Lee, Amos, George, John and Milton Gibbs; and his two sisters Ella Lee and Earlene Gibbs.
He is survived by nine children, Lola (Eugene) Jackson of Seaford, Mable (Donald) Hopkins of Georgetown, Lilly (Robert) Williams of Harbeson, Kay Purnell of Georgetown, Thomas Sr. and Ora Gibbs of Lithonia, Ga., Frank Sr. (Mary) Gibbs of Georgetown, Robert Gibbs of Ellendale, Kenny (Melvina) Gibbs of Harbeson, and Joetta (William) Harmon of Ellendale; one lovely daughter-in-law Dorothy Gibbs of Boston, Mass.; three sisters-in-law, Jessie Cole of New York, Patricia Mann of Seaford, and Delores Andrews of Hurlock, Md.; and one brother-in-law Joseph Posey of New York. He also leaves 29 grandchildren; 99 great-grandchildren; 33 great-great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-great-grandchildren; and host of nieces and nephews and other relatives.
Services were held Saturday, Sept 5, at Grace UM Church Georgetown. Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Homes.
