Obituary

Debbie Lee Gibson
(August 14, 1959 - March 13, 2018)

On August 14, 1959 in the city of Huntington, WV the chimes of time rang out the news that Debbie Lee Smith was born to the late Donald McDowell and Brenda Lee Smith.  Debbie graduated from Huntington High School in the class of 1977.  Following high school, she enrolled in Marshall University and received an Associate Degree in Business Administration.  Debbie was a part of the sorority Kappa Kittens.  Debbie was employed with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in Huntington, WV for 28 years where she was medically retired as a Realty Assistant in the Real Estate Division due to her bout with ALL Leukemia.  Debbie loved her family and friends and attended many of their sporting and social functions.  She was a dancing diva, nicknamed “Disco Deb” by her many friends and family.  Debbie taught line dancing at The Marie Redd Center, she also decorated for many church, birthday and wedding events for her friends and family.  She also loved to yell "Bingo" from time to time.  She was cast as an extra in the American Playhouse episode: Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson in 1984, were the star Ken Howard personally told Debbie she did a great job, she originally had a small speaking part but was cut from final production.  Debbie always was helping someone with her bright smile and personality, she will be sorely missed by everyone that knew her.  She never forgot a birthday or anniversary of her friends and family, she would call her family, friends and their children every year.  On Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at The Ohio State James Cancer Center surrounded by her children and siblings the chimes that began 58 years ago rang out the news that Debbie had been called to join her father, Donald McDowell and mother, Brenda Smith-Ervin; grandmother, Lillian Smith; brother, Ronald “Dolla” Smith and other family, friends and loved ones who preceded her in death.  She leaves to cherish her memories; her children, Rodney (Autumn) Gibson, Jr. of Williamstown, WV, Deric Gibson of Parkersburg, WV and Dominique Gibson of Huntington, WV; siblings, Randy Smith of Huntington, WV, Jon (Syretta) Smith of Columbus, OH, Stacy (George) Crisp of Huntington, WV, Michelle (Ken) Logwood of Reynoldsburg, OH, Deanna Barron of WV and Franklin (Lusi) McDowell of Midwest City, OK.  Only grandson, Rodney “Tripp” Gibson, III; step-granddaughter, Nakiya Bell; step-daughters, Courtney White-Bell and Julia White-Daniels; Ex-husbands, Leon White and Rodney Gibson; Godchildren, Shaquan Cooper of Miami, FL and Turchon Johnson of Huntington, WV.  Also, surviving are her nieces and nephews; Charlie Pankey, of South Carolina, Erika and Jasmine Smith of Richmond, VA, Kenny, Kristopher and Kristina Logwood of Reynoldsburg, OH, Brandon Hill of Columbus, OH, Travis Atkins, Seneca Smith, RJ Smith of Huntington, WV, John Thurmond of Parkersburg, WV, Jasmine, Dominique, Kailee and A’Mharee McDowell, of Garden City, KS and Sasha Drones, of Wichita, KS.  Special Friends: Debbie and Michael Cooper of Lake Norman, NC, Tonia Kay Page, Annie Williams, Nadine Plumley, Diane Graves, Michelle Wooding-McGhee and a host of other relatives and many, many friends that are too numerous to count. Visitation will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M., Friday, March 23, 2018 at 16th Street Baptist.  Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Saturday at the church with Pastor Kary Williams, officiating.  Burial will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington.