Betty Gibson

Betty Gibson, age 73, passed peacefully on Thursday, March 17, 2022. Betty was born in Pikeville, Kentucky on September 7, 1948 to Vernon and Ival Lakin. Betty was one of seven siblings.

She married John Gibson in 1968 and they were blessed with 52 years of marriage before his passing in 2020. They had two children, Rev. Mary (Damon) McInnes of South Lyon, MI and John Gibson Jr. of Duck River, TN. Her two granddaughters,  Eleanor and Heather, were the light of her life.

Betty was a devoted mother, grandmother, friend, community worker, and church member. She had a passion for gardening, horseback riding, caring for animals, having coffee on her porch, camping by the river, having fun with family and friends, and serving those in need in her community especially through the ministry at Riverside UMC (where she chaired the MissionTeam), Blessings in a Backpack, the People’s Table, and The Family Center (where she was a Board Member and loved working Thursday mornings along with her son and husband). Betty was a strong, fierce, faithful  woman with a kind heart, and she will be missed by many.

She is survived by her children Mary and John, granddaughters Eleanor and Heather, sister Debbie (Ronald) Crabtree, brother-in-law Joe (Debbie) Gibson, sister-in-law Sue (Rick) Winter, cousins, loving nieces and nephews, and special friends who are all broken-hearted about her sudden passing.

Betty was preceded in death by her adoring husband and best friend John, all seven of her brothers, and her parents.

Betty’s Celebration of Life will happen on March 24th, at Riverside UMC in Columbia, TN. Visitation is at 9:30 am, Service at 11:00 am (also live-streamed on the church’s Facebook page), and a luncheon to follow served by her faithful church friends. Memorials are encouraged to The Local Missions of Riverside UMC,  P.O. Box 392 Columbia, TN 38402 or The Family Center of Columbia, 921 Beckett St, Columbia, TN 38401.

A special way to honor our mother would be to serve God in deeper ways by worshiping with a faith community, finding meaningful ways to serve others, and being strong and kind.