Joe Lewis Gilbert

Joe Lewis Gilbert

Joe Lewis Gilbert, 73, of 1215 Cody Road, Long Island, passed Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, at his residence.

Born Oct. 18, 1936, in Pittsylvania County, he was the son of Mrs. Carrie Stone Gilbert, of Long Island, and the late Lewis Gilbert.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bessie Gilbert.

He was a retired employee of Abbott Labs in Altavista and was a member of the Level Run Baptist Church, Hurt.

In addition to his mother, Mr. Gilbert is survived by a son, Joe Thomas Gilbert (Connie), of Hurt; a daughter, Janet Witcher (Edward), of Hurt; a sister, Mattie Davis (devoted brotherin-law, James), of Long Island; five brothers, James Gilbert (Juanita), John Edward Gilbert, Jessie Gilbert (Carolyn), all of Long Island, Jack Gilbert (Estelle), of Hurt, and Goldsboro Gilbert (Bernice), of Germantown, Md.; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three brothers-in-law, James W. Ward (Othelia), Lawrence T. Ward (Betty) and Charlie T. Ward (Shirley), all of Gretna; a special friend, Julia Dews, of Madison Heights; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, at the chapel of Miller Funeral Home by the Rev. Harry Braxton. Interment will follow in the Staunton Baptist Church Cemetery, Long Island. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, at Miller Funeral Home. The family is at the residence of his daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Edward Witcher, 427 Oakwood Drive, Hurt.

Miller Funeral Home, Gretna, is in charge of the arrangements.