Evangelist Jeanette M Gibson

Evangelist Jeanette Marjorie Dibrell Gibson was born on July 8, 1929 in San Antonio, Texas at 818 Piedmont Street to the union of Anthony Wayne and Jimmie Tate Dibrell. She was the sixth of ten children born into this union. Her husband, both parents, and nine siblings have preceded her in death. Jeanette Marjorie Dibrell began elementary school in San Antonio at a very early age. She went to Cuney Elementary, and then to Douglas Jr. High for grades 6-8. She graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School May 31, 1946 at the age of 16. Jeanette passed state boards through Hicks Beauty College, gaining her state license in cosmetology. After receiving her license, she worked at Lane’s Beauty Salon. Jeanette also attended St. Phillips College in San Antonio, Texas. Jeanette was baptized in the Name of Jesus in 1938 at the age of 9 and received the gift of the Holy Ghost at the age of 12 at Lincoln Park Church of Christ, under the pastorate of Elder William Wilkerson, a District Elder in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World organization. As a teenager, she worked in the church and at after school jobs alongside her sister Lorene. Jeanette M. Dibrell and James M. Gibson, Jr. were married on October 5, 1950 in San Antonio, Texas and they remained married until her husband went on to be with the Lord 37 years later. After Jeanette and James married, they moved to Kansas City, Mo. The stories about being young and married in a new city were super hilarious and can only be impactful when Jeanette told the stories in her own dramatic way. They were members of Christ Temple Pentecostal Church, when it was located at 2104 Harrison. To this marriage three children were born, two sons and one daughter: James McGrayson III, Deborah Janetta and Benjamin Walter. Jeanette was a faithful wife, mother, homemaker, and church worker ESPECIALLY in Sunday School. Jeanette was an avid reader. She loved reading so much that she taught her children to read, even one was reading and spelling by the age of 3. In an almost uncanny coincidence, as with her sister Lorene, she TOO told her pastor that she felt the call to preach. He encouraged her to minister to her OWN 3 children who were eventually baptized in the name of Jesus and filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. She nurtured and mentored those three children and was very proud of developing them to professional careers. Sister Gibson and Assistant Pastor Eld. James Gibson, were instrumental in guiding many young people towards educational pursuits. Sister Gibson didn’t stop there. She began teaching Sunday School and Directing the Sunbeam Choir. They learned such songs as Acts 2:38, Zaccheus, and a host of other songs that the “children” STILL remember! She was passionate about the Word of God and with LIVING RIGHT. Sister Gibson was a CONVINCING teacher of the book of Revelation! According to her Sunday School students, she often scared the unholiness out of them! Sister Gibson loved to sing with her beautiful contralto voice. Her voice rang throughout the Gibson household and in church. She was a member of the Christ Temple Church Gospel Choir, sang soprano, led songs and even directed the choir at times. Jeanette followed her pastor’s advice but then went steps further and earned her AA and Bachelor’s Degree in education from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo. Jeanette became a certified Elementary school teacher in 1970 through 1994. Later, she pursued a Master’s Degree from Kansas State University and was honored as a Master Science teacher. Her career was spent at William A. Knotts Elementary School in the Kansas City Missouri School District. Jeanette had found her niche in life. She found a way to minister through teaching. She didn’t have to teach scriptures in the public school, all she had to do was LIVE the Word of God. She loved her students. They became like another family to us. Mom encouraged her students to become the best they could be. She loved them through their trauma, their difficulties, their victories, their sorrows as well as their joy. She became a mother figure and many of these beautiful souls kept in touch with her even on her death bed. The sweet students called, visited, prayed and even helped with expert advice. Mom was an avid traveler. She has traveled the United States and many countries worldwide. She believed in “getting out of your own backyard!” Because of her love of geology, she always asked people to bring her rocks from wherever they were traveling. Evangelist Gibson loved her grandchildren. She retired to be the caretaker of her youngest grandchild. She prayed for and dispensed knowledge to her children and grandchildren. She loved to take care of her health. She didn’t care for prescription cures and fervently sought a natural way to deal with her health and the health of others. People were often referred to Sister Gibson when they had an ailment. Sister Gibson took Tai Chi and earned a few belts of expertise. In those classes she learned how to fall correctly which came in handy as she gracefully aged. She also learned how to swim so that she could take water aerobics. In her late 70’s she began participating in Silver Sneakers, a low to medium impact exercise program for seniors. She would often pass her son Ben in the gym. He would say, “Hey mom!” She’d wave and jump into her little sportscar and drive off on a mission of some sorts. In her 80’s she even took an extended computer course at the local community college just because she wanted to understand how to navigate Facebook “to see why people were so free to say the most ignorant things!” She was determined to set folks straight. After she stopped driving on a regular basis, she LOVED skipping out on riding to church with everyone if she could ride with her sidekick grandson Joe Walker. She would skip riding to the store in a new car but would ride with Joe to Arkansas in the Thunderbolt Grease Slapper if possible! A few of Evangelist Gibson’s favorite songs are, Someday, I’m Going Where Jesus Is, Jesus Will Roll All Burdens Away and They Are Nailed to the Cross: Her favorite scriptures are Psalms 27 and John 1:1-5. Evangelist Jeanette M. Gibson transitioned from her temporary house, on Earth, into her eternal home, in Paradise, on November 2, 2023 at St. Luke’s Bishop Spencer Place on the Plaza. She leaves to cherish her memory, three children: James M. Gibson III of Louisville, Ky., Deborah J Ferguson (Stephen) and Benjamin W. Gibson both of Kansas City, Mo. Grandchildren: Joe Walker III, Joseph Gibson, Cynthia Johnson (Joseph), Courtlan Harrington (Desiree), Chad Harrington, Dominique Bartholomew (Clayton), great-grandchildren; One sister-in-law Angela Dibrell of Colorado Springs, CO; one goddaughter, JuDonna Jemerson; a host of nieces, great-nieces, Great great nieces, nephews, great-nephews, great great nephews, friends, and the beautiful members of the Victorious Life Church family. Funeral services Saturday, November 18, 2023, 11:00am at Victorious Life Church. Interment Floral Hills Cemetery. Visitation 9:00am-11:00am at the church. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website.

Evangelist Jeanette M Gibson

July 8, 1929 - November 2, 2023