Rebecca Pearce Gilbert Duggan

Rebecca Pearce Gilbert Duggan passed away peacefully on March 11, 2025. Born in 1931, she was a graduate of Auburn University (1951) after attending Shorter College in Rome GA for two years and previously a graduate of Columbus High School (1947).

She was a schoolteacher for 3 years at Morningside Elementary before marrying Dr. Albert Kirven Gilbert Jr of Columbus in 1954 until his death in 1964. In 1975, she married Carlton Stanley Duggan of Moultrie, GA and was widowed again in 2014.

Known as Mom, Becky, and GranBec, family was always her highest priority. She lived a long, exemplary life rich with the highs and lows of everything life has to offer.

She is survived by her daughter Susan Virginia Gilbert (Ron) of Columbus, her son Murphy Pearce Gilbert (Sabina) of Flat Rock NC, son-in-law James Edgar Chancellor III (Kathy) of Columbus, daughter-in-law Laurie Black Gilbert of Atlanta, grandchildren James Edgar Chancellor IV (Julie) of Columbus, Mary Rebecca Ramseur of Roswell GA, Dr. Albert Kirven Gilbert IV (Dana) of Columbus, Kathleen Wells Chancellor of Columbus, Jane Alexander Gilbert of Bloomington IN, Murphy Pearce Gilbert Jr of Charleston SC, Todd Marsh of Atlanta, Theresa Marsh Ferguson (Brian) of Atlanta, Jonathan Kadra Awad of Atlanta, Philip Watson Marsh of Seattle, and four great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by a daughter, Rebecca Gilbert Chancellor (1991) a son, Albert Kirven Gilbert III (2017), and grandsons Alexander Clarendon Chancellor and Wickham Barders Chancellor.

She is also survived by stepdaughters Julia Virginia Duggan of Missoula MT, Mary Stanley Duggan Casadonte (Tony) of Atlanta, and Elizabeth Duggan Alford (John) of Tallahassee FL, son-in-law Andrew Jubal Smith of Mountain Rest SC, grandchildren Reid Carlton Smith, Benjamin McTier Casadonte, Carolyn Jean Casadonte, and two great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by stepdaughter Cina Carolyn Smith.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the A.C. Chancellor Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation of Chattahoochee Valley, Columbus Hospice, or the First Baptist Church of Columbus.

The family will have a graveside service Thursday at Riverdale Cemetery followed by a memorial celebration at 2:30PM at the First Baptist Church of Columbus GA which may be viewed at firstbaptistcolumbusga.com.