Mrs. Barbara Ann McClain Gibbs, 83 of Charlotte, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2019 at Carrington Place in Matthews, NC.  She maintained her sense of humor and showed remarkable resiliency throughout her illness.

Mrs. Gibbs was born August 15, 1937 to the late Laura Isabelle McClain and Byrd Robert Graham in Huntersville, NC.  She attended Caldwell School in Huntersville and Sterling High School, Pineville, NC.  She graduated as Valedictorian of the 1955 Class of Torrence-Lytle High School, Huntersville.

Mrs. Gibbs graduated from North Carolina College, now North Carolina Central University (NCCU), Durham, NC in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Library Science.  While there, she met her husband, Thomas.

After graduating from NCCU, Mrs. Gibbs was hired to teach at Booker T. Washington High School in Staunton, VA.  In her first year, she served as head coach of the Girls' basketball Team and the team placed second in the Virginia State Championship.

During her career, Mrs. Gibbs worked at Newbold School in Lincolnton, NC; Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC and the Lincolnton City Schools.  She worked at Hickory Grove, Huntersville and Westerly Hills elementary schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System.

Mrs. Gibbs was a lifelong member of Catawba (formerly Caldwell) Presbyterian Church in Huntersville.  She loved her church dearly and over the years held many positions.  She served as assistant treasurer, secretary and was a faithful member of the Chancel Choir.  She participated in Christian Education, Children's Ministry and Women's Ministry.  She was also a member of the National Women of Achievement community service organization.

She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Lucy Berry McClain; parents; foster parents, Enice McClain Graham and John C. (Tom) Graham; husband, Thomas; sister, Nova Enice and brothers, Henry and Gary.

She leaves to cherish fond memories her stepmother, Ann Graham of Charlotte; sons, Timothy of Wingate, NC and Tracy of Charlotte; sisters, Lucinda Work (Marvin), Doris Phifer (Howard), Phyllis Alexander (Eddie) and Gail Lowe, all of Mooresville, NC; brothers, Jonah (Josephine) of Statesville, NC and Jerry (Sandra) of Mooresville; four grandsons and a host of other relatives and friends.