William T. Gibson

William Thomas Gibson, 90, died on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Thomas Gibson and Mamie Fludd Thompson. He received his formal education in the public schools of Clarendon County. In 1934, William married Mary McCloud and from this union of more than 30 years, eight children were born. He and his family relocated to New York City in 1940, where he took various jobs to provide for his family. As time progressed, he became a longshoreman. He retired from the Wil-more Corp. as a forklift operator.

After the death of his first wife in 1965, he married Mary Briggs Witherspoon and they shared 30 years together.

After the death of his second wife in 1998, Deacon Gibson moved back to South Carolina, where he met and married Emma Stukes and became a member of Gum Springs Missionary Baptist Church, Silver.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, William Jr. and Eugene Gibson, and two grandchildren, Mary Brown and Lakeishea Gibson.

Deacon Gibson leaves to cherish his memories, three sons, J. Kamau Gibson of Atlanta, Ga., Joseph Gibson of Manhattan, N.Y., and Talli Gibson of Jamaica, N.Y.; four daughters, Julia Gibson of Sumter, Mamie Gibson of Paxville, Mattie Gibson of Bronx, N.Y., and Beatrice Hill of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a sister, Eula Graham of Jacksonville, Fla.; a brother, Willie P. Thompson of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 17 grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, stepchildren, other close relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at Gum Springs Missionary Baptist Church, Silver, with the Rev. Corey Thompson, pastor, officiating.

Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn.

Dyson’s Home for Funerals of Summerton and Grace Funeral Chapel of Brooklyn were in charge of the arrangements.