Charles Gibson, Jr.

Charles William Gibson, Jr. Major, USMC (ret) of Long Beach, MS, passed away on Friday, March 11, 2022, at the age of 85.

A career Marine, teacher and family man, Charlie was born on March 9, 1937, in Rock Hill, SC.  He attended Great Falls High School, Great Falls, SC and was a graduate of Newberry College, Newberry, SC, with a degree in secondary education.

Upon graduation from college, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, where he proudly wore the Marine Corps Globe and Anchor and wholeheartedly respected the USMC credo of God, Country, and Corps.  He served, protected, and defended his country throughout his 23- year career and received numerous awards and recognitions. Some of his duty assignments included the Cuban Crisis, the Vietnam Campaign, and Okinawa, Japan.

He served in the Marine Corps until he retired in 1979. Following his retirement, he accepted the position of Senior Marine Instructor for the newly forming MCJROTC at Gulfport High School. He taught duty, honor, leadership, and service.  He believed in providing his students with the foundation for a future. He strived to be a good role model and mentor.   Although, he retired from Gulfport High School in 1999, he remained close with all his cadets and loved knowing where life had taken them.

Following his retirement from Gulfport High School and the MCJROTC, Charlie began volunteering with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society as a case worker as well as the position of Program Director for “Budget for Babies.”, that he shared with his wife, Betty.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; his parents, Charles W.  and Lottie V. Gibson, Sr. of Great Falls, SC;  and his brother, Larry Gibson of South Carolina and Long Beach MS.

He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Margaret Elizabeth (Betty) Leavell of Newberry, SC; their three children, Mrs. Beth Dean and her husband, Rex of Long Beach, Mrs. Cathy San Antonio and her husband, Garry of Greenville, TX and Mr. Jim Gibson and his wife, Laura of Warrenton, VA; nine grandchildren, Ashley Peterson Heidingsfelder and her husband Pat of Biloxi, MS, TJ Peterson and his fiancée, Morgan Linnett of Denver, CO, Chelsea Dean and her fiancé Zachary Dubroc of Biloxi, MS. Courtney Dean Gaskins and her husband, Talon of Santa Clara, CA,  James San Antonio and his wife Cassie of San Antonio TX, Amanda San Antonio Crouch and her husband Lee of Crestview, FL, Matthew San Antonio and his wife Olivia of Greenville TX, Kristopher Gibson and his wife Kirby of Oklahoma City, OK, Zachary Gibson of Warrenton, VA; 10 great grandchildren, and one on the way; and his nephew, Vann Davis of Gulfport, MS.

Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 17, 2022. The Visitation will begin at 10:30 AM, with the celebration of life service following at 12:30 PM. Interment will be at the Biloxi National Cemetery at 2:30 with full military honors.

We would like to thank the staff of Memorial Hospital at Gulfport and the Pass Christian Rehabilitation Center for their loving care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the South Mississippi Humane Society or First United Methodist Church of Long Beach.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Long Beach, is serving the family.