Lemma Lee Otwell Gibbs was the oldest daughter of Silas Dewitt Otwell and Emma Jane Pollard Otwell. Lemma grew up in Cleburne County, AL and married William Albert Gibbs, also a Cleburne County resident, on August 05, 1936.
At the time of Lemma's death, she and William Albert had been married for over 67 years and had two daughters, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Lemma was an avid reader, liked gardening, and enjoyed genealogy research. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, as well as, a devout Christian. Lemma was a member of the Eastern Star and had been a member of Arbor Baptist Church since 1966. She was diagnosed with Lymphoma in September, 2003 and fought bravely to overcome her cancer. My mother was the most courageous woman that I ever knew as she endured indescribable pain during her illness yet she never complained. She had a strong work ethic and always had a positive attitude, as well as, a smile for everyone.
Lemma was predeceased by her parents; step-mother, Freddie Truett Otwell; paternal grandparents, John Thomas Otwell and Eva T. Prichard Otwell; paternal step-grandmother, Mary Naomi "Omie" Handley Otwell; maternal grandparents, Lee J. Pollard and Louisa Jane Bentley Pollard; brother, John Ray Otwell, half-sister, Eva Nell Otwell Snow, and step-sister, Rena Gibbs Jackson Norell. She was survived by her husband, William Albert Gibbs of Pell City, AL; two daughters, Sarah Joyce (William "Bill") Johnson, of Panama City, FL, Janice Lee (Dr. Michael) Thorstad, of Palm Beach FL; six grandchildren, Karen Howard of Smiths Station, AL, Kelly (Vance) Andre, of Ocala, FL, Eric, Michael and Matthew Thorstad, of Palm Beach, FL, Elissa (Douglas) Forsyth, of Palm Beach, FL; seven great-grandchildren, Jennifer, Ashley, Amber, Meaghan, and Kaitlyn Howard; Sarah and Forrest Andre; two sisters, Hazel Otwell Whitman of Carrollton, GA, Jean Otwell Wiggins of Graham, AL; a brother, Noel (Lucille) Otwell of Haines City, FL; a half-sister, Mary Otwell (Gene) Warren of Bowdon, GA; numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Written by Sarah Joyce Gibbs Johnson
At the time of Lemma's death, she and William Albert had been married for over 67 years and had two daughters, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Lemma was an avid reader, liked gardening, and enjoyed genealogy research. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, as well as, a devout Christian. Lemma was a member of the Eastern Star and had been a member of Arbor Baptist Church since 1966. She was diagnosed with Lymphoma in September, 2003 and fought bravely to overcome her cancer. My mother was the most courageous woman that I ever knew as she endured indescribable pain during her illness yet she never complained. She had a strong work ethic and always had a positive attitude, as well as, a smile for everyone.
Lemma was predeceased by her parents; step-mother, Freddie Truett Otwell; paternal grandparents, John Thomas Otwell and Eva T. Prichard Otwell; paternal step-grandmother, Mary Naomi "Omie" Handley Otwell; maternal grandparents, Lee J. Pollard and Louisa Jane Bentley Pollard; brother, John Ray Otwell, half-sister, Eva Nell Otwell Snow, and step-sister, Rena Gibbs Jackson Norell. She was survived by her husband, William Albert Gibbs of Pell City, AL; two daughters, Sarah Joyce (William "Bill") Johnson, of Panama City, FL, Janice Lee (Dr. Michael) Thorstad, of Palm Beach FL; six grandchildren, Karen Howard of Smiths Station, AL, Kelly (Vance) Andre, of Ocala, FL, Eric, Michael and Matthew Thorstad, of Palm Beach, FL, Elissa (Douglas) Forsyth, of Palm Beach, FL; seven great-grandchildren, Jennifer, Ashley, Amber, Meaghan, and Kaitlyn Howard; Sarah and Forrest Andre; two sisters, Hazel Otwell Whitman of Carrollton, GA, Jean Otwell Wiggins of Graham, AL; a brother, Noel (Lucille) Otwell of Haines City, FL; a half-sister, Mary Otwell (Gene) Warren of Bowdon, GA; numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Written by Sarah Joyce Gibbs Johnson
Lemma Lee Otwell Gibbs was the oldest daughter of Silas Dewitt Otwell and Emma Jane Pollard Otwell. Lemma grew up in Cleburne County, AL and married William Albert Gibbs, also a Cleburne County resident, on August 05, 1936.
At the time of Lemma's death, she and William Albert had been married for over 67 years and had two daughters, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Lemma was an avid reader, liked gardening, and enjoyed genealogy research. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, as well as, a devout Christian. Lemma was a member of the Eastern Star and had been a member of Arbor Baptist Church since 1966. She was diagnosed with Lymphoma in September, 2003 and fought bravely to overcome her cancer. My mother was the most courageous woman that I ever knew as she endured indescribable pain during her illness yet she never complained. She had a strong work ethic and always had a positive attitude, as well as, a smile for everyone.
Lemma was predeceased by her parents; step-mother, Freddie Truett Otwell; paternal grandparents, John Thomas Otwell and Eva T. Prichard Otwell; paternal step-grandmother, Mary Naomi "Omie" Handley Otwell; maternal grandparents, Lee J. Pollard and Louisa Jane Bentley Pollard; brother, John Ray Otwell, half-sister, Eva Nell Otwell Snow, and step-sister, Rena Gibbs Jackson Norell. She was survived by her husband, William Albert Gibbs of Pell City, AL; two daughters, Sarah Joyce (William "Bill") Johnson, of Panama City, FL, Janice Lee (Dr. Michael) Thorstad, of Palm Beach FL; six grandchildren, Karen Howard of Smiths Station, AL, Kelly (Vance) Andre, of Ocala, FL, Eric, Michael and Matthew Thorstad, of Palm Beach, FL, Elissa (Douglas) Forsyth, of Palm Beach, FL; seven great-grandchildren, Jennifer, Ashley, Amber, Meaghan, and Kaitlyn Howard; Sarah and Forrest Andre; two sisters, Hazel Otwell Whitman of Carrollton, GA, Jean Otwell Wiggins of Graham, AL; a brother, Noel (Lucille) Otwell of Haines City, FL; a half-sister, Mary Otwell (Gene) Warren of Bowdon, GA; numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Written by Sarah Joyce Gibbs Johnson
At the time of Lemma's death, she and William Albert had been married for over 67 years and had two daughters, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Lemma was an avid reader, liked gardening, and enjoyed genealogy research. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, as well as, a devout Christian. Lemma was a member of the Eastern Star and had been a member of Arbor Baptist Church since 1966. She was diagnosed with Lymphoma in September, 2003 and fought bravely to overcome her cancer. My mother was the most courageous woman that I ever knew as she endured indescribable pain during her illness yet she never complained. She had a strong work ethic and always had a positive attitude, as well as, a smile for everyone.
Lemma was predeceased by her parents; step-mother, Freddie Truett Otwell; paternal grandparents, John Thomas Otwell and Eva T. Prichard Otwell; paternal step-grandmother, Mary Naomi "Omie" Handley Otwell; maternal grandparents, Lee J. Pollard and Louisa Jane Bentley Pollard; brother, John Ray Otwell, half-sister, Eva Nell Otwell Snow, and step-sister, Rena Gibbs Jackson Norell. She was survived by her husband, William Albert Gibbs of Pell City, AL; two daughters, Sarah Joyce (William "Bill") Johnson, of Panama City, FL, Janice Lee (Dr. Michael) Thorstad, of Palm Beach FL; six grandchildren, Karen Howard of Smiths Station, AL, Kelly (Vance) Andre, of Ocala, FL, Eric, Michael and Matthew Thorstad, of Palm Beach, FL, Elissa (Douglas) Forsyth, of Palm Beach, FL; seven great-grandchildren, Jennifer, Ashley, Amber, Meaghan, and Kaitlyn Howard; Sarah and Forrest Andre; two sisters, Hazel Otwell Whitman of Carrollton, GA, Jean Otwell Wiggins of Graham, AL; a brother, Noel (Lucille) Otwell of Haines City, FL; a half-sister, Mary Otwell (Gene) Warren of Bowdon, GA; numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Written by Sarah Joyce Gibbs Johnson
Inscription
Order of the Eastern Star Emblem
