Andrew Mitchell Gibson

Andrew M. Gibson, born October 26, 1935 in Holcomb, MS, passed away April 23, 2012in Houston, TX. He served in Special Operations in the U.S. Navy; attended seminary at Emory University for 7 quarters seeking a PhD in psychology, philosophy, and theology. While a student, he served 5 United Methodist churches in northeast Georgia in Appalachia, and was voted “the most promising young preacher in Georgia.” He later served 3 different United Methodist Church’s in northeast Mississippi. During this time, he also began teaching and coaching at a local high school. It was while doing this that he came to the realization that his true calling was education. So he left the ministry and focused on education and coaching football and girls’ basketball. He received his Masters in School Administration from Livingston University, now known as the University of West Alabama and made principal in 5 years, the minimum time to become a principal. He was the founding head-master at Kemper Academy a private school, grades K-12, in DeKalb, Mississippi, obtaining full accreditation for the school in the first year. He worked in some other public schools in Alabama and was eventually divorced from his wife of 23 years. They had 2 daughters, Cindy and Sheila. Cindy had a very tragic life and died in 1985 from cancer. Sheila is married with 3 children and lives in Carlsbad, NM. With the divorce, he left education. He worked construction for a while, but eventually became involved in the business of restaurant management. He worked for several fast food chains, but mostly Shoney’s. In typical Andy style, he made manager in 5 weeks. It was Shoney’s that brought him to Texas. He had always wanted to come to Texas; he just had to wait for God’s time. He came to Texas temporarily as the training manager for Shoney’s. It was there that he met the love of his life, became a father to two teenaged boys, and eventually became the most awesome G-Daddy to three precious granddaughters. He returned to education teaching at Strack Intermediate School in Klein ISD, Magnolia High School in Magnolia, TX and finally found his home at John H. Reagan High School in Houston ISD, located in the Heights, where he taught for nine years. There he mentored so many young people, giving them his time, his resources, and his love, and teaching them about the joy of giving, of doing for others, and for practicing random acts of kindness. He was a true inspiration. Declining health forced his retirement two years ago. Since that time, his health continued to decline, taking a sharp downwardspiral in early March. He will be deeply missed. May the Lord bless him and keep him and give him His peace. Andrew is preceded in death by his parents, James Whitten Gibson and Stella Jewel Scrivner Gibson; sister, Gloria Gibson Simmons; brother, Billy Van Gibson; sister, Emma Sue Gibson Johnston and daughter, Cynthia Jean Gibson.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Greer Gibson; son, Cory Smith and wife Patty; son, Jeffrey Smith; granddaughters, Alexis Edwards-Smith, Amanda Smith, and Allison Smith; brother, James Gibson; sister, Betty Jean Gibson Taylor; and numerous nephews and nieces. A visitation will be held Monday, April 30, 2012 from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heights Funeral Home with a funeral service to follow at 6:00 p.m. A graveside service will take place at Houston National Cemetery on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. The family requests memorial donations be given to the Andrew Mitchel Gibson Memorial Scholarship to benefit a deserving economically disadvantaged student from Reagan High School.