Annie Merle (Doss) Gibbons, age 91, returned home to be with her Heavenly Father on August 22, 2019. On April 7, 1928, The Lord gifted her to parents, Chester Arthur Doss and Cora (Abels) Doss of Warrior, Alabama. Merle had three sisters: Alice (Doss) McCombs, Ola Mae (Doss) Richey, and Corine (Doss) Reid; and three brothers: Arvel Doss, Hutchie Doss, and Horace Doss; each of whom preceded her in their journey to be with The Lord.
Merle grew up in rural Warrior, Alabama and experienced, first-hand, the many roles and responsibilities of farm life. After graduating from Mortimer Jordan High School, she moved to Birmingham and, as a single professional, established her career with the Tennessee Coal & Iron Division of United States Steel Corporation. During this time she resided at the Southern Methodist Church’s Eva B. Comer Christian Home for Professional Women located on 8th Avenue North. She commuted to/from work using the city bus system and it was at a bus stop that she was noticed by another young professional commuter, Chester Hazon Gibbons. After serving in World War II, Chester had moved from rural Thorsby, Alabama to attend Birmingham Business College while working at The City Ice Company. Being a shy young man, Chester sought an introduction to Merle through a friend that later led to an active courtship in Birmingham’s post-war social scene. This included forties-style dining and swing dancing at the likes of the historic Pickwick Social Club in Birmingham’s Five Points South. Merle and Chester would later continue their ballroom dancing on the colorful dance floor at The Club through their later years of life.
On May 7, 1949, Merle and Chester were married at Fairfield Highlands Baptist Church and later established their home on 43rd Street in Ensley Highlands. It was there that they progressively expanded their family with the births of their first son, Phillip Hazon; their daughter, Patricia Lynn; and their second son, Gerald (Gerry) Wayne.
The Gibbons were active members of Central Park Baptist Church where Merle served in multiple teaching and leadership roles for over two decades. Having moved to Bluff Park in early 1960s, the Gibbons later transitioned their Christian service and membership to Shades Mountain Baptist Church, where Merle worked in the Office of the Senior Pastor. In their later years, Merle and Chester worshiped as members of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church. Over their 63+ years of marriage and serving The Lord together, Merle and Chester found life-long friendships in the church that were as close as family.
On November 19, 2012, Chester left to be with The Lord and Merle missed him dearly.
Merle has been blessed over the years with 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren who have affectionately known her as Ma Ma.
Merle’s children and their respective spouses include: Phillip Gibbons and wife, Jane (Dodge) Gibbons; Patricia (Gibbons) Waters and husband, Gregory N. Waters; and Gerry Gibbons and wife, Tammy (McCarty) Gibbons.
Grandchildren and their respective parents include: Jennifer Dawn (Gibbons) Harris and Phillip Hazon Gibbons Jr. with parents: Phillip Gibbons and Jane (Dodge) Gibbons; Blakeley Lynn (Waters) Clark and Gregory Neal Waters II with parents: Patricia (Gibbons) Waters and Gregory N. Waters; and Lauren Racheal Gibbons and Catherine Sloan Gibbons with parents Gerry Gibbons and Lisa (Summerlin) Gibbons (deceased).
Great Grandchildren and their respective parents includes: Robert Parks II and Ava Beth with parents: Jennifer and Brandon Harris; Mia Lynn and twins, Samuel Avery and Jackson Avery with parents: Blakeley and Will Clark; and Madison Lynn and twins, Harper Lynn and Hazon Gregory with parents Neal and Jenna (Ward) Waters.
A reception for family and friends will be held from 1:00pm - 2:00pm at Southern Heritage (Pelham, AL) on Sunday, August 25 with a celebration of Merle’s life in the Southern Heritage Chapel at 2:00pm. A brief graveside blessing will follow on the grounds of Southern Heritage.
Southern Heritage is located at 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, AL 35214 (phone 205.988.3511).
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