Willis Franklin Gibbs

Homerville, GA Mr. Willis Franklin “Red” Gibbs departed this life on Friday, June 13, 2008, to live with his Lord & Savior throughout the eternal ages. He was 94 years of age. Mr. Gibbs was a retired rural letter carrier for the Homerville Post Office. He was inside Clerk for twenty years before taking a rural route to finish forty years of devoted service. Mr. Gibbs received his education from Clinch County School System. He left high school to serve thirteen months in the C.C.C. After his discharge he returned home to complete his high school education. He then attended Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton. Before going to work with the U.S. Postal Services he worked in Jacksonville, FL, with Southern Bell Telephone and a short time with the Ship Yard in Savannah. Mr. Gibbs enjoyed bird hunting and fishing in his younger years, later taking up the game of golf. After which, he was often kidded about hunting his clubs he’d thrown into a tree or fishing his golf balls out of the water. He was a good sport with a great sense of humor, truly one of a kind. Mr. Gibbs was a life time member of the Homerville United Methodist Church. He was a former member of the Masonic Lodge, Lake Verne and the Okefenokee Country Club. Mr. Gibbs was preceded in death by his first wife: Mrs. Verna Poppell Gibbs; and two brothers: Alva Groover Gibbs & James Marshall Gibbs. He was the oldest son of Grover Austin Gibbs & Barbara Collins Gibbs who also preceded him in death. Mr. Gibbs is survived by his wife: Carolyn Delk-Gibbs; three step-sons: Willis Ivey Delk, Tony Delk, & Winston Delk, all of Homerville; one step-daughter: Lanora Delk Rouse, all of Homerville; twelve step-grandchildren; four step- great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law: Martha Gibbs, of Montgomery, Alabama; Bebe Gibbs, of Jasper, Georgia; & Katherine Poppell, of Valdosta; three nephews and a niece: Al Gibbs, of Camden, Alabama; Bill Gibbs, of Sapphire, North Carolina; Jerry Gibbs & Laura Rutherford, of Jasper, Georgia; several great nieces and nephews; and a very cherished and devoted friend: Ms. Martha Lee Gibbs, of Jesup, Ga. Services will be held at Homerville United Methodist Church, at two o’clock, Sunday June 15, 2008. Internment will be in Pine Forest Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday, June 14, 2008, at the Roundtree Funeral Home, from 7 til 9pm. “Mr. Red” will always be remembered for his love for little children and his great sense of humor. He will be sadly missed and long remembered. Roundtree Funeral Home is serving the Gibbs family.