Gerry Hill Cleveland

Gerry Hill Cleveland passed away Friday, June 17, 2016, lovingly supported by her two sons, Jack and Charles Hill. Gerry, or GiGi, as she preferred to be known later in life, was born on December 12, 1934, in Monticello, Mississippi and is preceded in death by her parents, Charles E. Gibson, Sr, and Bonnie Guess Gibson, and her siblings, Kendel Gibson Gordon, Captain Charles E. Gibson, Jr, Elizabeth “Dit” Gibson Foley, and Bill Gibson. Also preceding her in death are her husbands, Jack D. Hill and E.V. “Buddy” Cleveland.

Immediately following graduation from Mississippi Southern College (now USM) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Gerry married Jack D. Hill on national television in August of 1957. Always a trend setter, Gerry’s marriage to Jack on NBC’s “The Bride and Groom Show” preceded today’s reality television concept by several decades. Following her marriage, Gerry settled with her husband Jack in their adopted home town of Hattiesburg where she taught school, obtained a Masters Degree in Education, and raised her two sons.

Gerry moved with her family to Natchez, Mississippi in 1973 when her husband Jack became the founding President of First Natchez Bank. Following Jack’s untimely death in 1976, Gerry entered a period of mourning which was unrelieved until she met and fell in love with her second husband, E.V. “Buddy” Cleveland of Jackson, Mississippi. Widowed a second time in 2007, Gerry lived the remainder of her life sustained by the memories of happier times. Gerry was a loving wife to both her husbands to whom she dedicated her life as a devoted spouse.

Gerry loved to travel, entertain and had a great eye for decoration and design.

She is survived by her son Jack, his wife Melissa and their children Kate, Anna, Bonnie, and Allison; her son Charles, his wife Natalie and their children Alexandra “Alex” and Jack.

She leaves behind a legacy of love for her family, who ask her forgiveness for revealing her age.

A memorial service will be held at Parkway Funeral Home in Ridgeland, Mississippi on Saturday, July 9 with visitation starting at 2:00pm and the memorial at 3:00pm.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers that a donation be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.