May 19, 1929 – November 3, 2024
Educator, civil rights advocate, and community leader Dr. Carlos Gibbons, (Pops), has passed away peacefully at the age of 95 at his residence at the Heritage at Lowman in Chapin, South Carolina.
Originally from Turbeville, South Carolina, Gibbons took his love of learning to the University of South Carolina, where he received his BA and MA in Education. He married Jean Dyson from Summerton, South Carolina, and the couple moved to Maryland where he received his PhD in educational psychology at the University of Maryland.
Dr. Gibbons started his career in Hartsville as a teacher, coach and ultimately principal; growing his family along with a desire to affect change. In the politically turbulent 60’s Gibbons made history as the executive secretary of the South Carolina Education Association responsible for merging the all-black Palmetto Education Association with its white counterpart. As a valued voice advocating for civil rights, he received an invitation from President Lyndon Johnson to join him in Washington, DC to consult and advise on the growing racial divide. As a VP of the Urban League and took his optics on politics back to the classroom where he became a professor at Lander College.
Next, his curiosity and love of people led him to a job fundraising for public schools through the company IFS. After many award-winning years, Gibbons retired and began yet another career as an antique dealer. It was in this capacity in the town of Irmo, South Carolina through his “Farmhouse Antiques”, that Gibbons inherent skills as a charming raconteur gained him notoriety and fans.
He loved every minute of delving into the history of each piece and acquisition, and delighted in sharing its story with potential customers and passers-by.
Dr. Gibbons was known for attracting and keeping friends of all ages and he continued to crave their company after he retired to his Lake Murray home which he called Golden Pond. He was a proud and active member of the Boyleston Masonic Lodge where he formed close bonds with his brothers and provided spiritual comfort and strength to many.
His sharp mind was respected by friends and family. It was, in large part, his vision and inspiration that encouraged his daughter Leeza to open Leeza’s Care Connection in Irmo as a tribute to her parents and their family’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr Gibbons remained an active supporter until his passing, often leading groups at the center and participating in events to honor his wife of 55 years, Jean Gibbons who passed away with Alzheimer’s in 2008. Carlos was amazed a few years later to be blessed with another love in his life, Donnis Broome. He and Donnis became a well-known, well-loved couple frequenting local haunts where Carlos could often be seen writing poetry at the bar.
Gibbons’ son and his namesake Carlos Gibbons Jr. and his wife Anne Marie were never far behind and helped to complete this close circle of care.
Cam Gibbons, the youngest daughter was the sharp-witted foil for his jokes and along with Leeza, encouraged his penchant for storytelling.
What a story it was, too, challenging his 6 grandchildren to explore his rich legacy of characteristic optimism. Through it all, Pops found a way to believe that all of it ultimately served the greater good.
Leeza’s children Troy, Leksy and Nathan are as amazed and inspired as Carlos Jr’s daughters Taylor and Kelly and Cammy’s son Blake.
In the two years before he was called home, Pops had a great-grandchild, Isla, daughter of Taylor and Andrew Weyl. He was instantly smitten.
He often said he had the world’s greatest son-in-law in Leeza’s husband Steven Fenton and a dream daughter-in-law in Anne Marie Richardson Gibbons.
Longevity runs in the family as Carlos’ older sister, Ferrell Crowley from Greenville is keeping the legacy alive along with his niece Beth Horton and her husband Billy. His best friend Gene Swygert and longtime care companion Glenda Hiller have made his senior years full of laughter and love.
The family is extraordinarily close and looks forward to honoring Pops at his celebration of life/funeral service to be held at 11 am on Saturday, November 9 at Temples-Halloran Funeral Home, Bush River Memorial Gardens at 5400 Bush River Road in Columbia.
In the end, this larger-than-life patriarch was the beloved leader of his family. A true and moral man, he accomplished much, but the task of leading and loving was where he excelled most. Pops loved his life and kept his sharpness until his very last breath; often remembering the dramatic and ordinary changes in his lifetime.
In honor of those who can no longer remember, the family would like to ask that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Leeza’s Care Connection, (a nonprofit supporting families facing Alzheimer’s [http://www.leezascareconnection.org] www.leezascareconnection.org) to help continue his work to ensure that those who are forgetting will not be forgotten.
