Dorothy Evelyn Gibbs Thigpen passed away Tuesday, February 16, 2016.
Dorothy was born to Isaac and Bessie O’Quinn Gibbs in St. Augustine, Florida, on April 20, 1931. She moved to Brunswick with her family in the 1940’s and graduated from Glynn Academy in 1949, where she played alto sax in the first Glynn Academy band. After graduation, Dorothy married Willie G. Thigpen, Jr., and enjoyed her life as an U.S. Air Force wife and mother. During this time, she lived in Panama City, Florida, Wichita, Kansas, Amarillo, Texas, Weisbaden, Germany, and Sumter, South Carolina, where she volunteered and was a member of the Woman’s Club.
In 1964, Dorothy opened Palmetto Greenhouse and Florist and owned and operated the florist until 1980. She then received her real estate license and worked for Parker-Kaufman Realtors in Brunswick for several years. Dorothy was a Member Emeritus of the Order of the Eastern Star, Marshes of Glynn Chapter #243 and the First Baptist Church of Brunswick. In the mid 1980’s, Dorothy moved to Clarkston, Georgia, where she worked as a title examiner until her retirement. After retirement, Dorothy lived in Helen, Georgia, and Clarkesville, Georgia, where she enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a member of Clarkesville Baptist Church.
Dorothy is survived by her husband of 66 years, Willie Grey Thigpen, Jr.; five children, Patricia Ann Thigpen Ransom (Bob), Willie Grey (Billy) Thigpen III (Frances), James Isaac Thigpen, Mary Alice Thigpen, and Pamela Jean Thigpen Moody (Gerald); 11 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild; sisters Shirley Gibbs Smith (Lewis), Melinda Gibbs Parrish (Jack), Connie Gibbs East (David); sister-in-law Trudy Parker Gibbs (Robert), several nieces and nephews, and many cousins from the Thigpen, O’Quinn, Gibbs, and Darley family.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, Bessie and Isaac Gibbs, her brother Robert J. Gibbs, sisters Patricia Gibbs Dellinger, and Joyce Gibbs Thornton.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 10:00 AM from the Twitty Chapel, First Baptist Church in Brunswick, GA.
Hillside Funeral Home in Clarkesville is in charge of the arrangements. 706-754-6256
