With deepest sorrow we at Henryhand Funeral Home regret to announce the passing of James "Jimmy" Gibson, 91, of Andrews, SC, who passed away on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

Life Reflections

Celebration of Birth

James Gibson affectionately known as, "Jimmy" was born May 6, 1933, to proud parents Isaac and Rebecca Dickerson Gibson. Jimmy was born in the Morrisville area of Williamsburg County, South Carolina.

Celebration of Life (the genius with the fourth grade education)

Jimmy was a big healthy chunky baby with big chocolate cheeks. Jimmy was educated in Williamsburg County, South Carolina. Jimmy's mother passed away at 10 years old, having him promise to take care of his sisters and brother. Jimmy was the apple of his mother Rebecca's eyes. Jimmy became a man at eight years old. Too young to hook the mule up, his older cousins would come and hook it up for him and he would plow the fields. Jimmy would sit up with his mother at night and shell peas and beans, then help jar the harvest. At the time of his mother's death, she left over two hundred jars of fruits, vegetables and meat jarred up.

Jimmy was a member of St. John A. M. E. Church. He said he would slide down in the seat and try not to be noticed by his uncle and Melvin Snow, because he would always be picked to take up the collection. He said he would be thinking, "Why they always picking me, they don't have anyone else?" Jimmy also sung in a quartet group as a bass singer.  Jimmy's favorite uncle was his mother's brother "Butta," who would pick him up and carry him on his shoulders. His uncle would draw a line in the dirt and they would race, but unfortunately, he never won a race, lol! His mother was a particular woman when it came to being clean. Her nieces would come to wash clothes for her and when they were finished she would rewash them.

Jimmy started working in the logging business at the age of sixteen, and was cutting down trees so fast his boss would tell his workers to stay out of Jimmys' way until he finished. When he first started logging, his cousin, Gator told him to go get the wood stretcher, he said he walked, looking for the wood stretcher and asking fellow workers, where was it, while they laughed. He finally realized there was no such thing as a wood stretcher. Jimmy did everything his mother asked of him upon her death bed. When all the other boys had bikes, he bought his brother Richard a bike too. Jimmy was so skilled with a chainsaw, he was put in one of Andrews Parades to show off his skills with a saw. Jimmy even started his own logging business at one point. At seventeen Jimmy was looking for better job opportunities, so he went to Richmond, VA to his cousin,  Bethel McGill to get a job. He had to put his age up to eighteen, in order to get a social security.

card. He worked in the cement business for a few years, but at his father's request, he returned home to help his father. After a few years he went back to Virginia and got his Union Card. Still seeking the motor city of Detroit, Michigan to try the car factories there, but at that time it was a recession and jobs were slow. Jimmy then went to New York City and life got better. Having had that Union Card paid off, he began in the roofing business, then later went into the construction business. Life started looking up for him. He knew with the lack of education he needed a job that required common sense and hard work and good pay. Jimmy moved in the heart of Harlem, USA.  142 West and 124 Street Harlem was the renaissance for black people at that time. There he saw history he never dreamed of. Harlem was history by itself, and it created history for him. He saw stars at the Apollo Theater, weekly, Cotton Club, Small Paradise, Savoy Manor, Silvia's before Silvia's became a restaurant; when she was cooking out of her kitchen in her apartment on 126th Street. He and his cousin George was in Smalls Paradise one night and saw the then, Cassius Clay. George shouted, "Clay what you going to do to Sonny Listen?" Clay answered, "I'm going to knock him out in the first round." Jimmy couldn't stop laughing, but Clay knocked Sonny Listen out in the first round. He saw and shook hands with Robert F. Kennedy when he was running for President. Jimmy had an apartment, but wanted a house so his children could play safely in a backyard. He then bought his first house in Brooklyn, New York. Later he bought and moved to another building he bought, then later another building. He had store fronts, rented space for a beauty parlor and a daycare. It wasn't easy, he worked from sixty to ninety hours a week for twenty-two years! With more education he could have been the first black President. Tragically he loss four sons, Johnny, Herbert,  Gregory and Jamie.

Jimmy was the foundation of his sisters and brothers. He kept his promise to his mother.

Celebration of Death

Jimmy developed Colon Cancer in 1997 and fought the battle for twenty-seven years. Finally the battle was over at 10:12, July 23, 2024.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Isaac and Rebecca Dickerson Gibson; the love of his life Evelyn Hyman; four sons, Johnny, Herbert, Gregory and Jamie; three brothers and five sisters.

He leaves to cherish his memories: one daughter, Regina Hyman Gibson (Earl); one stepson, Alan Hyman of Andrews, SC; five grandchildren, Shateek Garay, Dayshon Rivers, Amber Rivers, Mayor Skyler Rivers and Rayna Rivers all of Brooklyn, NY; two sisters, Helen Gibson Gaillard of Teaneck, NJ and Anna Dozier of Rochester, NY; a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Jimmy you fought a good fight, no more pain.

WE LOVE YOU J. J.

The family is receiving friends and family at 402 Oakland Street, Andrews, SC.

All arrangements and professional services have been entrusted to Henryhand Funeral Home of Andrews, SC. 843-354-2292.