Funeral Service Ms. Barbara "Bobbie" Gibson

March 24, 2025, Mt Zion Baptist Church, 1:00 pm

December 8, 1940 – March 18, 2025

4 Songs Prelude

Welcome and Invocation-Willie

Scripture Reading & Personal Reflection-Willie

Song-Home by Jason Crabb

Personal Reflection-Felicia Bryant

Song-

Funeral Message and Personal Reflection-Luke

Introduction (1–2 minutes)

Family, this Pastor, this church family and this community grieves with you over your loss. Due to the hope we have in our Savior Christ Jesus and the relationship we know she had with her Savior, we can have hope in such a time is this.

Ms. Bobbie (and I hope you will allow me to call her “Bobbie”) was a lady, but she was a Southern lady. She was a Southern rural woman who was a farmer’s wife and carried all the Southern charm that goes with that role. And she fulfilled that role to it’s fullest. She was a child of the King.

Conrad shared as her mind faded that her mind was clear as it related to God’s Word. Oh the grace of our Lord. As Conrad read the 23rd Psalm, she would recite the words even in her last days.

In honor of Ms. Bobbie, I want to share from the 23rd Psalm.

Psalm 23:1–6 NKJV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

2. Message

Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Ms. Bobbie knew her Shepherd and trusted Him through all seasons. Her Lord nurtured her every need.

Like any good farmer, she understood the rhythm of seasons—planting, tending, waiting.

She lived without complaint, trusting God's provision, content in what He gave.

Psalm 23:2 – “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”

Her home was a place of peace—warm, welcoming, and full of love, expressive love in the form of kindness.

Visiting in her home-Are there people you just love to visit? I loved to visit the Gibson home. You went to the back door, I would duck to enter the home. There was such a security in that quaint home. You might speak loud and knock a couple of times and just walk on in. Oh, the fire place. You were not leaving that she would give you a coke, a moon pie, some preserves, and whatever other goodies she had prepared. That’s who she was.

Philippians 4:8 “8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

After you left Ms. Bobbie, you could soar on Eagle’s wings. She was such an encouragement. She offered grace filled words.

She led people beside still waters just by being herself.

Psalm 23:3 – “He restores my soul…”

Even as her health declined and dementia crept in, her soul remained held by the One who restores.

Her memory may have faded, but God never forgot her.

We rest in the truth that God completes what He begins (Phil. 1:6).

Philippians 1:6 “6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…”

Death is a shadow—it cannot destroy.

Jesus, our Shepherd, walked through death for us and now walks with us through it.

She did not walk this final valley alone. Her Shepherd was beside her.

2 Corinthians 5:8 “8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

Psalm 23:5 – “You prepare a table before me…”

She prepared many tables in her life—meals, celebrations, Sunday lunches.

We hold an annual barbeque here at the church. We work all night and all day leading up to the time to distribute. 5:00 am would roll around and she had to have been up two hours cooking. she would come with a large coca cola flat full of food; biscuits, butter, preserves, sausage, bacon, eggs. She would feed us as if we were going to cut pulpwood.

At our Wednesday night suppers for church, she would bring no less than 7 various dishes to insure we had enough food for everyone. She was a woman of hospitality and she had a servant’s heart.

But now, the Lord has prepared one for her, a heavenly table, eternal and overflowing.

Her place is set, and she is home.

Psalm 23:6 – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”

Goodness and mercy followed her and overflowed from her.

She leaves a legacy of kindness, faith, and joy.

And now, she dwells in the house of the Lord forever.

3. Pastoral Reflection (3 minutes)

I was Ms. Bobbie’s pastor these last ten years. I saw her serve, I saw her laugh, I saw her weep,I saw her encourage, but I believe her greatest trait was love, I saw her love.

I imagine it was two or three months ago that Felicia brought her to worship service which was her last time to come to church; when I gave the invitation in her finite mind at that point, she wanted the assurance that she was okay with her Lord and Savior. She shared with me in that little time together when she came down front how much she loved Jesus.

I was so blessed, our church family was so blessed to be at the Crossing two weeks ago for our monthly ministry time there and she sang the hymns with us, she was cognizant and in the 11th hour expressed her love to everyone of us that were there and expressed to me her love for Jesus.

I count it privilege that the family has allowed me to share in this time. I loved Ms. Bobbie and she loved me.

And family, she loved you because that is who she was because of the Lord, that love that resided in her. Dearly beloved, Scriptures state “For God is love.” If she were here she would want me to say that “God loves you.”

“She made ministry a joy. Her compliments weren’t flattery—they were gifts of grace.”

4. Song-Psalm 23 I am not Alone by the Isaac’s

5. Closing Prayer

“Let’s pray together.”

Heavenly Father, We thank You today for the life of Ms. Barbara Gibson—She is Your daughter, Your servant, and our beloved friend.

She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, a mother in law, an aunt, a neighbor and the list goes on. Thank You for her legacy she leaves behind: a servant’s heart, a welcoming spirit, and words that lifted our hearts. Thank You that she knew You as her Shepherd and followed You all her days. Even in her final valley, You were near—comforting, guiding, and receiving her into Your eternal presence. We ask now for comfort for her family—especially her children, grandchildren, and loved ones. Give peace in sorrow, hope in grief, and strength for the days ahead. May we, too, live in such a way that reflects the goodness and mercy that followed her life. And may we hold fast to the hope that one day we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

6. Postlude Song