Martha Ridley Gibbs

Martha Austin (Bradshaw) Gibbs passed away peacefully on May 10, 2025, at St. Martin's in the Pines, Birmingham, Alabama. Martha was born in Tampa, Florida, on January 26, 1926, and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, where she worked alongside her family at Austin’s, their family-owned clothing business. A true southern lady, she embodied elegance, hospitality, and an unwavering devotion to her family, friends, and community.

Martha was preceded in death by her son, Charles Austin Bradshaw; her husband, Grover Alva Gibbs Jr., former mayor and public safety commissioner of Troy; her parents, James Larkin Austin and Lina Barrow Austin; and her brothers, Jack Larkin Austin and Willis Gerald Austin.

She is survived by her daughter, Leigh Bradshaw Denson (Dee); her daughter-in-law, Kathryn Broach Bradshaw; her beloved grandchildren, Joe Larkin Denson (Julia), Douglas Austin Denson (Lauren), Charles Dee Denson (Lura), Charles Austin Bradshaw, Jr., and Beverly Carlisle Bradshaw; seven adored great-grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Dorothy Stuckey Austin.

Pallbearers are Dee Rodrick Denson, Warren Randal Austin, Joe Larkin Denson, Douglas Austin Denson, Charles Dee Denson, and Charles Austin Bradshaw, Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Jeffrey Larkin Austin and William Floyd Gibbs, Jr.

In her earlier years, Martha was married to Charles “Charlie” Idus Bradshaw, a celebrated college football coach. Through Charlie’s storied career, with coaching tenures under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant at Alabama, as head coach at the University of Kentucky, and later at Troy University, Martha became affectionately known as the “First Lady” of college football. She embraced the ups and downs of coaching life with elegance and grace.

She was known by many names: Miss Martha, Miss Alabama, Mrs. Gibbs, Mrs. B, but most importantly…Mom and MeMaw. To know her was to be welcomed, to be loved, and to feel important. She had a remarkable way of making everyone feel like they belonged. Martha was an ambassador of everything she touched, and she lived life with vibrance, dignity, and an unshakable love for her people. Martha leaves a legacy of faith, family, friendship, and football- a life fully lived and deeply loved.

A very heartfelt thank you to Demeteriss Barnes and the caregivers at St Martin’s in the Pines, who treated Martha with such dignity and grace as they cared for her during her later years of life. The family is forever grateful for the love they showed her.

A graveside celebration of Martha’s life will be held Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 11:00 am at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama, with Dr. Karl K. Stegall officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Magic Moments, an organization close to the family’s heart. Magic Moments: 2112 11th Avenue South, Suite 219, Birmingham, AL 35205.