Obituary of Samuel Gibbs

Columbus Samuel Gibbs March 17, 1944 - May 16, 2017 Columbus "Sam" Gibbs of Hillsborough, NC, 73, passed away on Tuesday morning May 16 at 9:37am while in the Durham VA Hospital. He was born in Engelhard, Hyde County, NC. He was the youngest of 9 children born to Charles Olian Gibbs and Caddie Dell Gibbs. Sam was enrolled in the Oxford Orphanage in Oxford, NC, at the age of 6 years old and remained there until he graduated in 1962. While at the Oxford Orphanage, he was very active on the farm, taking care of the many farm animals, as well as being very active in sports. He played football, basketball, baseball, and track & field. He once held the NC high school high jump record at 6' 00.75". After graduating from the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, he enlisted with the United States Coast Guard. He served in the USCG from 1962-1966 on two different Coast Guard cutters. He served on the USCGC Basswood and the USCGC Ingham. Sam was a painter/carpenter by trade. He, along with other family members, painted numerous homes in the Hillsborough and Durham areas. Sam had a real entrepreneurial spirit: he believed in dreaming big and going after one's dreams. Sam, along with his late wife Helen Gibbs, ministered the Gospel of Jesus Christ for 40+ years. Sam and Helen Gibbs got to know each other through Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International, and were baptized the same day. They later married on May 1, 1975. Sam ministered in Trinidad, Haiti, Israel, and many states throughout the US. He prayed for and helped countless number of people wherever his journeys took him. He was working on plans to minister in California, Tennessee, Trinidad, Jamaica, and possibly India before God took him home. Sam Gibbs is survived by his brothers Ollie Gibbs, Charles Gibbs, and Alvin Gibbs; sister Clydie Gibbs; children Paul Gibbs (Jackie), Samuel Wright (Joanne), James Wright (Anita), Sarah Wright Faircloth (Kelvin-deceased). Numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife Helen Crabtree Gibbs; brother Ivon Gibbs; sisters Violet Mae Gibbs, Ovis Marie (Gibbs) Stelzig, Gladis Gibbs; son Harold Wright; daughter-in-law Naomi Wright; son-in-law Kelvin Faircloth; grandchildren Jesse Gibbs and JoAnna Wright; great- grandson Killian Perez. There will be a viewing held Sunday, May 21, at Walker's Funeral Home, 204 N. Churton Street, Hillsborough, from 1:00-2:15pm. The funeral service will follow at 2:30pm. A USCG military honors service will be held at Efland United Methodist Cemetery on Brookhollow Road. The family is accepting flowers, as well as donations to any military, ministry, or food bank charitable foundation of your choice in memory of Columbus Samuel Gibbs. Also, donations can be made to the Oxford Orphanage in Oxford, NC. Thank you for all the heartfelt prayers and condolences at this very difficult time. It is truly appreciated and continues to sustain all the family. Walker's Funeral Home of Hillsborough is serving the Gibbs family. Online condolences may be offered at www.walkersfuneralservice.com.