Sheila Yvonne Gibson

On the 16th of October, 1948, in the city of crab cakes and kool-aid, Thomas and Irene Alexander of Baltimore, Maryland, became the parents of a daughter they named Sheila Yvonne Alexander. Her father nicknamed her Chicken. He was from Wise, North Carolina and lived on a farm with chickens. She had one brother, Thomas J. Alexander Jr., who resides in Randallstown, MD with his wife, Selena and children Justyn and Jasmyne. His son Darin and his wife, Tamika and their children Jaison, Tai and Myah live in Colorado Springs, CO. Sheila's father went home to be with the Lord on her and Aaron's 24th wedding anniversary in 1994 and her mother later followed him on September 16th, 2011.

Sheila attended the Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated from Edmondson Senior High School on June 4th, 1966. Because of a tuition waiver program implemented by Governor Spiro Agnew, she only paid $60.00 per year for her four-year education at Coppin State College plus books. (They were a LOT cheaper then!) Also, with the waiver, she was guaranteed a teaching job for two years in the Baltimore School System. Coppin was renamed on April 13th, 2004 to Coppin State University. She graduated on June 4th, 1970 with a BS degree in Elementary Education.

She thought that she had reached her goal, but God had other ideas when a longtime church friend, Aaron Gibson, proposed to her on February 29th, 1970. One Sunday, just for fun, she had written Sheila Gibson on her Fulton Baptist Church bulletin and thought whoever he married would have some beautiful children... and they are!

Aaron was a Chaplain's Assistant in the US Army when they tied the knot on June 21st, 1970 and was stationed at Ft. Hood, TX. She needed $225.00 for her airfare to fly back to Texas with him and so they put out the word that they needed money more than gifts. They received gifts and exactly $225.00 in cash. GOD IS GOOD!

Aaron Jr. (Beets), arrived on Mother's Day, May 9th, 1971 while Aaron Sr. was stationed in Seoul, Korea. Aaron was able to come home for a month after Aaron Jr. was born and then came home for good in December of 1971. Our son Beets went home to be with Jesus on Monday, June 3rd, 2019 and is resting in HIS ARMS.

The family then moved to Ft. Bragg, NC for eleven months and then moved to San Antonio, TX soon after. Sheila asked Aaron if she got a job, could she get a car. God blessed the family by giving her a job teaching 4th grade and as a bonus was able to buy a white 1969 Mustang with black interior to drive to work. PRAISE GOD!

Pisa, Italy was our next home for three years where Sheila substituted and directed the children's choir at the Post Chapel. In Italy, Sheila gave birth to Damon, on November 1st, 1975. They also were blessed to go on a Holy Land trip for eleven days where they walked in the places Jesus walked. WHAT A BLESSING THAT WAS!

Returning to the states in 1977, we were stationed at Ft. Monmouth for nine years. Sheila got a job driving a school bus at Ranney School and also worked there as a building secretary between bus runs.

During Black History Month in 1978, the SBC Gospel Chorus came to minister at the Post Chapel at Fort Monmouth where Aaron worked and Sheila and family attended service. It wasn't until Aaron changed jobs that they were able to attend Second Baptist and later joined. The Rev. C. P. Williams welcomed them in as family and they loved him like a father.

On November 3rd, 1984, our only daughter, Rachael, was born at Monmouth Medical Center. In 1986, we moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany for three years. The family returned to Baltimore for Aaron's ordination service on Sheila's birthday, October 16th. Sister Isabella Medina, her very good friend, brought Sheila's choir robe so she could sing with the choir. Rachael married Willie Daniels, Jr. on May 4th, 2013.

In December of 1988, Aaron Sr. was selected to return to the states for a training class in El Paso, Texas. Sheila, who had substituted for 2 years, was hired as a 1st grade teacher in 1988 which was unheard of for a military spouse and Aaron Jr. was able to graduate with his high school class. GOD INTERVENED AGAIN!!

The family returned to Ft. Monmouth in 1989 and in June 1996, after almost 28 years in the Army, the Gibsons said farewell to military life and looked for somewhere to live.

They grew spiritually and emotionally at SBC under Rev. C. P. Williams. He was the first real pastor they had ever had and upon his going home to be with the Lord, the mantle was passed to Aaron and the journey began with Pastor Gibson and congregation

Sheila worked in the Tinton Falls School District for 25 and a half years and retired on July 1, 2016. She was a member of the Gospel Chorus, Mass and Celestial Choirs, Sunday School, VBS, Media Ministry, Adult Ushers, a reading teacher in the New Hope Tutoring After School Program for over 16 years, a substitute in the Long Branch School System and a member of the Senior Praise Dance Ministry formed in February, 2019. For seven years she also was the church secretary.

Her husband Aaron, children Damon and Rachael, grandchildren Dequanne, Tyson, Destiny, Makayla, Ayana and her great-granddaughter Kalia have blessed her life tremendously. She will miss them, but know one day she will see them again in God's Heaven.

Her favorite scripture was Psalm 100 because it states: I KNOW THAT THE LORD IS GOOD; HIS MERCY IS EVERLASTING AND HIS TRUTH ENDURETH TO ALL GENERATIONS!!!!.

Seeya, her license plate said, up yonder and God bless!

I will see Ya Again!

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 5 from 10 am until the time of the Going Home Service at 12 pm at the Second Baptist Church, 93 Liberty Street in Long Branch. Interment will follow at Glenwood Cemetery in West Long Branch. The family invites you to leave a letter of condolence through the Tribute/Guestbook link above.

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