On November 19, 2012, Chester Hazon Gibbons departed us to be with the Lord. He was born in 1925 in Prattville, Alabama (Autauga, County) and was one of 10 children born to John and Minerva Gibbons. Chester grew up in a farming community near Thorsby, Alabama (Chilton County) and later lived near Jemison, Alabama (Chilton County) until enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1943 at the age of 18. He served in the South Pacific during World War II and earned a number of decorations during the Southern Philippines Campaign, including a Bronze Star and the World War II Victory Medal.
At the end of World War II, Chester returned to Alabama and enrolled in Business College in Birmingham, Alabama. He began his business activities as a staff accountant/business manager for The City Ice Company and later invested the dominate portion of his business and managerial career at Zac Smith Stationary Company (then Alabama’s largest commercial office supply and equipment firm) where he rose to serve as President and CEO. He subsequently pursued related-industry entrepreneurial initiatives and concluded his business career as a successful real estate executive.
In 1949, Chester married the love of his life, Annie Merle (Doss) Gibbons and together they had 3 children: Phillip Hazon Gibbons; Patricia Lynn (Gibbons) Waters; and Gerry Wayne Gibbons; all who survive him. He has been blessed with 6 surviving grandchildren: Jennifer (Gibbons) Harris; Blakeley (Waters) Clark; Phillip (PJ) Gibbons, Jr.; Gregory (Neal) Waters II; Lauren Gibbons; and Catherine Gibbons. Chester also has 5 surviving great grandchildren: Parks Harris, Ava Harris, Mia Clark, Sam Clark, and Jack Clark. His surviving siblings are brothers Earnest Gibbons and Bobby Gibbons.
Mr. Gibbons has been a faithful follower and servant of the Lord through his leadership and membership at Central Park Baptist Church, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, and most recently Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, where he is survived by a host of friends and spiritual family members.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Chester H. Gibbons will be held on Friday, November 23rd, 2012 at 3:00pm in the Chapel at Southern Heritage Funeral Home located at 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, Alabama 35124; exit 246 on U.S. Hwy. 65 (left at the exit if traveling south – right if traveling north – then immediately on the left); 205/988-3511 (www.southernheritagefunerals.com). The family will welcome guests at the Southern Heritage Chapel from 1:00-3:00pm before the chapel service and there will be a brief graveside memorial immediately following the chapel service.
As an alternative to flowers, Chester’s friends and family are invited to contribute to the Chester H. Gibbons Memorial Fund at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church. If making a contribution, please forward the gift payable to: Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, 1114 Oxmoor Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35209 and designate the “Chester H. Gibbons Memorial Fund” on your gift.
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