Willie Alton Gibbs

Wiilie Alton Gibbs age 85 of Athens, formerly of Abbeville passed away Sunday, August 9, 2009 in the Heritage Health Care of Athens.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, August 12, 2009 in the Antioch Baptist Church with the Rev. Dan Lovett and Rev. David Clark officiating.Interment will be in the Antioch Cemetery. Mr. Gibbs was born on April 2, 1924 in rural Wilcox County.He was one of six children of Ples and Ovida Gibbs.He graduated from high school in Abbeville and entered the US Navy in 1943.After World War II he graduated from the University of Georgia in 1950.He married Francis McCall. Mr. Gibbs lived a full and active life.He was proud of his service in the Navy and his accomplishment at work.He directed a finance company in Rome and later moved to Abbeville and taught school and finally worked as the elementary school principal in Abbeville. The people of Abbeville knew Mr. Gibbs for his long service to the community, and his love and generosity with his family.When his wife died in 1986, he stayed at his home next to the one he had lived in with his parents as a child. He enjoyed mowing five acres of family land and looked forward to gatherings of his family and the potluck dinner that accompanied them.He made sure that his children and grandchildren had whatever he was able to give them. When Mr. Gibbs had to leave his home of 30 years due to disablility, he went to live with his daughter, Wanda.He enjoyed living with Wanda and her husband, John and became an active member of their family for 12 years. Mr. Gibbs will be missed by his children, Wanda Latta and her husband John, George Gibbs and Julie Gibbs and their children Allison Merritt, Kristie Gibbs, and Chris Gibbs and his wife Christy, Michael Gibbs and his wife Vicki and their children, Michael Gibbs and Courtney Gray. Great Grandchildren include Bryce and Rachel Gray and Brooks Merritt. Mr. Gibbs is survived by one brother, Wendell Gibbs and one sister, Lois Keene.He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brothers Lloyd Gibbs, Charles Gibbs, and Harris Gibbs. Frazier and Son Funeral Home in Rochelle has charge of arrangements.