Phyllis P Gibson

Phyllis Irene Powers Gibson passed away peacefully November 11, 2025, with her loving daughter by her side. She was born August 30, 1942, in Tazwell, Virginia to Columbus S. and Nigel Davis Powers. In 1947, she moved to Kingsport, Tennessee with her mother and siblings following the death of her father in a coal mining accident, where she grew up. She graduated from Sullivan High School in 1960 and began her secretarial career working for Miller & Hawkins Attorneys at Law, Grossett & Dunlap Book Publishers and Kingsport Federal Savings and Loan. In 1969, she began a seventeen-year tenure with Tennessee Eastman Company having served various roles as a Sales Correspondent, Purchasing Correspondent, Project Aide, Field Marketing Assistant, Data Processing Service Coordinator, Systems Budget Coordinator and Secretary for both the Civil and Chemical Engineering offices. She worked as a Project Aide for Midwest Technical Incorporated and Administrative Office Assistant for Dewberry and Davis, Architects and Planners prior to beginning her twenty years of service with the Kingsport Police Department in 1991, serving as the Executive Staff Secretary to the former Chiefs of Police, James F. Keesling, Mark E. Addington and Gale Osborne. She retired on September 03, 2011. She married Phillip Haws Gibson on June 5, 1971, and they lived in Fall Branch, TN and then Gray, TN. She moved to Johnson City in 1996.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her mother, Nigel Davis Powers Rasnake, stepfather, Ralph Rasnake, her husband, Phillip Haws Gibson, brother, James C. (JC) Powers, two sisters Jannis Powers Cutshall, Ruby Jean Powers Millsap, father-in-law William Thomas Gibson, mother-in-law Ruby Cross Gibson; nieces Kathy Jean Millsap and Donna Powers Depriest, and great nephew Seth Alan Price.

She is survived by her only daughter, Brooke (Kevin) Graham of Unicoi, TN, and twin grandsons, Kip Graham and Knox Graham, one sister, Margaret Evans of Leesburg, FL, one half-brother, Darrell Rasnake, of Kingsport, several nieces and nephews.

She was of Baptist faith and attended Sulphur Springs Baptist Church and Heritage Baptist Church. Her hobbies included reading, gardening, crocheting, knitting, cross-stitching, embroidery, painting, and restoring antique furniture. Those who worked with Phyllis remember her for her impressive shorthand and lightning-fast typing skills. She served on the Limited Edition Homeowner’s Association Board of Directors multiple times in various roles. She remained very active with her alumni class of 1960 from Sullivan High School with dear friends who have remained in contact throughout her illness. She was also an active member of the Johnson City Mall Walkers. Of all her roles in life, her greatest joy was being “MeMe” to Kip and Knox, supporting them in their academics, athletics, travels, and adventures.

The family will receive friends Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 6:00 P.M. until 6:45 P.M. at East Lawn Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at 7:00 P.M. with Pastor Rick Keller officiating. Entombment will be private.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to the physicians and staff at New Leaf Senior Care at Sycamore Shoals Hospital, Elizabethton; The Courtyards Senior Living, Johnson City; Gentiva Hospice, Johnson City; and Dr. Keith White, Ballad Health Behavioral Health, for the care and comfort they provided for Phyllis.

In-lieu-of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Phyllis’ honor to Niswonger Children’s Hospital @ [email protected], a service close to her heart for the excellent care her grandsons received as premature infants.

East Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park is honored to serve the family of Phyllis Irene Powers Gibson.