It is with profound sadness and immense love that the family of Mrs. Vella Spears Gibbs, a homemaker of the Hickman Community, had to return their mother to God who gave life and called her home at 8:20 a.m. Sunday morning June 8, 2025 surrounded by her family at the residence of her daughter, Kim Dyer, of Defeated Creek Highway. The 89-year-old Mrs. Gibbs was pronounced deceased at 9:07 a.m. by Gentiva Hospice of Livingston who had been assisting the family with Mrs. Gibbs care.
Ms. Gibbs is at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home where her son-n-law, Dr. Tim McCaleb, will celebrate her life at the 11 a.m. funeral services on Thursday morning June 12th. A nephew, J. W. Vaden will deliver the eulogy. Burial will follow beside her husband of almost fifty-two years in the Garden of Everlasting Life at the Smith County Memorial Gardens.
The Gibbs family will receive friends at Sanderson in Carthage on Wednesday from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. and again Thursday from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. services at Sanderson in Carthage.
Mrs. Gibbs was the oldest of three children, a daughter and two sons of the late Lemuel Tyler “Lem” Spears who died March 5, 1964 at the age of 50 and Essie Roberts Spears Herd who died June 10, 2007 at the age of 93. She was born Vella Morene Spears in Baxter in Putnam County on May 19, 1936.
A brother, Jay T. Spears preceded her in death at the age of 67 on October 8, 2006.
Mrs. Gibbs was the widow of the late Allen “Frog” Gibbs, who was the longtime owner and operator of the Warioto Service Station in South Carthage and who preceded her in death on January 7, 2010 at the age of 83. They were married on March 1, 1958.
Mrs. Gibbs was saved as a young girl and was of the Freewill Baptist faith.
She was the personification of the word lady and lived her life with grace and dignity. She had been a devoted wife, a loving mother to her four children and was always dedicated to serving her family and caring for the home.
The 31st chapter of proverbs alludes to a virtuous woman and she fit that description in every way.
Her children arise up, and called her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Proverbs 31:28 KJV
Survivors include Sherry Gibbs of the Defeated Creek Community, Sheena Gibbs McCaleb and husband Dr. Tim McCaleb of Cleveland, Tennessee, Kim Gibbs Dyer of the Defeated Creek Community, Kris Gibbs and fiancée Jenny of the Hickman Community; brother, Jerry Spears of Cookeville; sisters-in-law, June Gibbs Vaden of Gordonsville, Linda Gentry Gibbs of Hendersonville; nine grandchildren; Jessica Oldham and husband Van of Brentwood, Erica Camp and husband Dr. Christopher Camp of Rochester, Minnesota, Seth McCaleb and wife Alli of Norfolk, Virginia, Jonathan McCaleb of Edinburgh, Scotland and his fiancée Camille Lynn of Troutville, Virginia; Logan and Nathan Dyer both of the Defeated Creek Community; and Kennedy, Kassidy and Presley Gibbs all of the Hickman Community. She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren.
The Gibbs family requests memorials to the Second Harvest Food Bank.
Pallbearers: Donnie & J. W. Vaden, Maxie Gibbs Jr., Logan & Nate Dyer, Brandon Spears
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vella, please visit our floral store.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
This obituary was published by Sanderson Funeral Homes, Inc. – Carthage.
Obituaries provided free for the community.
This obituary was published by Obituaries provided free for the community.
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