Charles Lavelle Gibson, 77, was born April 29, 1948, to Dewitt Gibson and Mattie Sue Brown. Charles grew up in Meridian, MS. He graduated from Clarke College (where he met his wife) and Mississippi College. He majored in Church Music and served as Bi-vocational Minister of Music in several churches in the Jackson area. Most of his career was in the construction industry.

He loved hunting, especially turkey hunting and had been to New Mexico and Arizona several times. He had made many friends while there and was hunting with some of them last week. Unfortunately, he had a 4-wheeler accident over the weekend and didn’t survive. We are broken-hearted but joyful knowing he died doing what he loved and is now with the Lord. We know his prayer would be that all of you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ so that you will join him in the future.

He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Rachel Barlow Gibson. They would have been married 57 years in June. He is also survived by a daughter, Dawn Robinson (Jimmy), a son Mark Gibson (Jennifer); six grandchildren, Rae Smith (Steven), Madi Buchanan (Cory), Sarah Gibson, Emaleigh Gibson, John Gibson, and Charlie Gibson; two great grandchildren (one due in May and one due in August); many nieces and nephews; sisters, Carol Stern and Beverly Zock (Craig); a sister-in-law, Nell Barlow; and by his life-long best friend, Langford Knight.

He loved the Lord first, then his family, friends, and others. He served his church in many capacities: Sunday School teacher, choir member, deacon, elder, and many other ministries. He served in the Air Force/Air National Guard and was honorably discharged in October 1981.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 25th at 10:30am with visitation at 9:30am at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Byram, MS. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Gideons International.