Joanne Covar Gibson, 91, of Raleigh, went to be with the Lord on July 20, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones at her family home.
She was born in Eden, Georgia, on Oct. 15, 1932, to the late John G. Covar and Hazel Griner Covar. An only child, Joanne was the joy of her parents’ lives. Her father’s employment with the railroad took them first to Norfolk, Virginia, before eventually settling in Hamlet, during Joanne’s early years. She grew up there and graduated from Hamlet High School; she was blessed during those years with many lifelong friendships.
Joanne met her husband-to-be, Holland Monroe Gibson Jr., after he returned from serving in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. Holland’s cousin Roy played matchmaker and arranged a blind date for the two, and as they say, the rest was history — Joanne and Holland were married on March 28, 1953.
Joanne worked as a receptionist for Dr. Garrison in Hamlet and also as a bookkeeper for several businesses prior to the birth of her first child. After that, she devoted her life to taking care of her immediate and extended family. Her deep Christian faith guided her in every aspect of her life, and her servant’s heart blessed everyone around her.
She was a devoted daughter, mother to three children, grandmother, wife and friend. Her kindness and compassion were evident to everyone who knew her by the way she conducted her life and the care she demonstrated for her family and others.
Joanne is survived by her husband of over 71 years, Holland Monroe Gibson Jr.; daughter, Dr. Gay G. Strickland; daughter, Jan G. Combs (Dr. Buel S. Combs III); son, Gary H. Gibson (Deborah); grandchildren, Merrily S. Boyd (Michael), Joy C. Strickland, Buel S. Combs IV, Michael C. Combs (Ashleigh), Laura Nicole Willis (Ben), Daniel H. Combs and Robyn Roberts (Mike); great-grandchildren, Gibson Boyd, Tate Willis, Holland Willis, Trevar Betts (Brooke) and Jordan Betts; and several great-great grandchildren.
A service of witness to the Resurrection will be held on Friday, July 26, 2024, at Harrington Funeral Home in Hamlet. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m., and the service will start at 11 a.m. A brief graveside service will follow immediately after at Richmond County Memorial Park in Rockingham.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, Tunnel to Towers (T2T), Lee “Iceman” Watson Memorial Scholarship at Richmond Community College (Lee was her nephew), or to a charity of your choice.
Harrington Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Gibson family.
Online condolences may be made at harringtonfuneralhome.com.
