Ola Lee Mann-Gibbs' Obituary
Ola Lee Mann-Gibbs departed this life into the peaceful and loving arm of Christ Jesus our Savior, April 2, 2012 at home. She was born on June 4, 1920 in Engelhard, North Carolina. She was the daughter of the late James and Maggie Mann. She often talked about how she was unable to complete her education and because of the early death of her mother; she had to help raise her siblings. She never let that stop her from reading and studying her bible. She met James W. Gibbs and they were married on May 14, 1936. They later moved to Delaware with her siblings and five of their eleven children. She became well known in the city of Georgetown for her love and kindness she showed to everyone. She was a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother not only to her family but to everyone through four generations. She worked at Paramount Chicken Factory for several years before her retirement. She became a Christian in her earlier years. She became part of a home church, going from house to house until their church was built. She cooked and sponsored many dinners to help raise money to build the church known today as ""The Booker Street Church of God"", which she is a founding member. There she was one of three missionaries and held the position of church Mother, helping in many other areas. She often spoke of crossing the Jordan to be with the Lord who was the source of her strength and life. Her favorite song was ""I Got Something to Thank the Lord For"", which she sung every morning. Mom will be sadly missed but we shall never forget her Sunday dinners, her words of encouragement, and her tendency to make others laugh. We could never tell what she was going to say until it came out of her mouth. She was preceded in death by one son, Wilbert; three brothers, Robert, Tom, and Wilson; and three sisters, Pearl, Marie, and Ellamae. She leaves to cherish her memories her husband of 75 years, James William Gibbs; 10 children: James Jr. (Margret) of Laurel, Lola (Eugene) Jackson of Seaford, Mable (Donald) Hopkins of Georgetown, Lilly (Robert) Williams of Harbeson, Kay Purnell of Georgetown, Thomas of Ft. Lauderdale FL, Frank (Mary) of Georgetown, Robert of Ellendale, Kenny (Melvina) of Harbeson and Joetta (William) Harmon of Belltown; one nephew, Mack Mann; and one lovely daughter-in-law, Dorothy Gibbs of Boston, MA. She also leaves 29 grandchildren, 91 great grandchildren, 27 great-great grandchildren, three sisters: Jessie Cole of New York, Patricia Mann and Delores Andrews of Seaford and a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives. The abundant life for ""Our Mama"" as she was affectionately called was: Pray-The greatest power on earth Love-it is a God given privilege Read-It is the fountain of wisdom Be friendly-The road to happiness Give-It is too short a day to be selfish Play-The secret of perpetual youth Laugh-Then music of the soul Work-The price of success Save-The secret of security
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