George F. Gibson cherished educating, serving to others
WAGRAM — George F. Gibson was born in Wagram on Feb. 16, 1903. He grew up engaged on his household’s farm, however when he completed highschool, his life took a unique course.
He headed for Fayetteville.
A person who loved the land, Gibson labored along with his brother for some time doing yard work, what we’d name landscaping immediately. Nevertheless, Gibson was had extra targets in thoughts and enrolled at Fayetteville State College, then generally known as the State Coloured Regular Faculty. Fayetteville State is the second-oldest, state-supported college in North Carolina. And on the college, Gibson met his spouse, Malinda Blackwell.
The couple had one baby and Malinda Blackwell Gibson lived to be 101 years previous. She handed away in 2014.
Gibson grew to become a trainer and returned to Scotland County to stay and educate the scholars within the Oak Hill neighborhood of Wagram.
“He cherished to show,” stated his daughter, Delores Gibson Alston. She’s identified in Wagram because the Thanksgiving woman. A giving spirit that was handed all the way down to her from her mother and father. “He cherished to assist others, however he by no means taught me. That was a no-no.”
Alston attended Mary Potter Excessive Faculty in Oxford. It was a boarding college for Black college students, based in 1889 by George C, Shaw. Alston stated, she attended the varsity as a result of her mom thought getting up at 4:30 am to experience the bus to highschool was an excessive amount of.
Greater than a principal
Gibson was extra than simply the Oak Hill Elementary Faculty principal. He continued to run the household farm and had a retailer on the property the place residents who couldn’t make the 10-mile journey to Laurinburg for requirements might come.
“We had a giant farm and a retailer — I ran the shop and Daddy used to inform me to jot down off [what someone owed] as a result of they solely made $3 that week,” she stated. “However I used to be writing it off anyway.”
Alston stated the shop made cash, however she stated they gave away much more. “Again then, folks didn’t need to pay for issues as a result of your neighbors helped.”
Gibson grew watermelons and candy potatoes in addition to cotton on the farm. Alston stated her father would give away the vegatables and fruits to anybody who wanted or wished them. She stated a part of her job on the farm was to load the hampers with the potatoes.
When Alston was requested what her father loved extra, educating or farming, she stated he cherished each. However greater than anything, he wished to assist those that wanted it.
Since he knew everybody locally, Alston stated her father knew their struggles as effectively.
“He believed everybody ought to have one thing for Christmas, so he would purchase toys and stack them up within the storage home,” she stated.
For a few years, Gibson would depart a bag of toys on the doorstep of households. He didn’t go away a card or search credit score for giving to folks in want, however Alston stated over time folks figured it out.
“He was fortunate he bought to show on the college throughout from the home,” she stated.
Gibson was the principal at Oak Hill Elementary till Shaw Faculty opened. Gibson labored in schooling for 35 years earlier than he retired. He died on Oct. 18, 1971, on the age of 68. He’s buried in Hillside Memorial Cemetery in Laurinburg.
Alston was Gibson’s solely daughter and whereas they didn’t share a classroom, her mother and father’ giving spirit lived on by her. And similar to her father, she offers to people who find themselves in want. She even carries luggage of fruit to present out to folks within the space.
Keep in mind, she’s the Thanksgiving Girl. Alston and her mom, who made her profession as a seamstress, served the neighborhood home made Thanksgiving meals for greater than 30 years.
“My daddy used to say: feed the folks when you don’t do nothing else,” she stated to The Laurinburg Change in 2015. “I began out with somewhat pink truck.”
Alston hosted her final neighborhood meal in 2016, however similar to her father earlier than her, she’s nonetheless providing a serving to hand in her neighborhood when she will be able to.
Cheris Hodges may be reached at [email protected]