Juanita Gibson

Juanita Gibson LUBBOCK-Juanita Nita Gibson was born July 18, 1924 in Lubbock, Texas to John and Sally V. Sullivan. On Oct. 22, 1943 Nita met Charles H. Gibson, that day he told his parents I have just met the girl I'm going to marry. The next thing he did was to change Juanita to Nita. Charles and Nita married in the First Baptist Church parsonage on Jan. 22, 1943. They were accompanied by family members and surprised by a group of Brownfield High School buddies. After Charles was discharged from the U.S. Army Air Corps, he and Nita lived in Odessa. They were members of the Emmanuel Baptist Church. In 1947 they moved to Lubbock and joined the First Baptist Church. Later when First Baptist Church sponsored a mission-Southcrest Baptist Church, Charles and Nita joined as charter members. In Aug. of 1955 Charles and Nita adopted their children-twins, age 21 months, Jerry and Sherry. Jerry, the son, had a fatal car accident on May 9, 1998. Nita was raised a Conservative Democrat and was asked to head the Democrats for Nixon group in Lubbock County, but members of the Republican Party were watching her political abilities and invited her to change over to their side. Nita made her decision and became vice chairman of the Lubbock County Republican Party in 1961. In 1964 Nita ran for the office of County Judge in Lubbock as a Republican Candidate. Later on she became President of Cotton Pool Incorporated. After retirement, Nita wrote her autobiography, That Cotton Pickin' Woman. Her husband preceded her in death on Nov. 14, 2002. Surviving family members include daughter, Sherry and her husband, Jim Hatchett; grandchildren, Christina Hatchett, Lisa-Marie and Jimmy Scott, Michael Gibson and Jamie Gibson; great-grandchildren, Chandler and Charles Wortham, James and Kaitlyn Scott, William and Brittany Gibson; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins; and many wonderful friends. She died on March 17, 2016. Services will be Tuesday, March 22, at 10:30 a.m. at Sanders Memorial Chapel with the Reverend John Ballard officiaiting. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the care of Sanders Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church-Building Fund.