Rev. Worth Wesley Gibson

Dr. Worth Wesley Gibson, 86, of Jonesboro, died Sunday, January 17, 2016, at NEA Baptist Hospital. He was born in Green Forest, Arkansas and moved to Jonesboro in 1969. He was a pastor of Arkansas churches for 38 years. Dr. Gibson was the founding pastor of Trinity Church and Calvary Chapel in Jonesboro and served these churches for five and six years respectively. Prior to his founding churches, he served as pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro from 1969 until 1980. Other churches he served as pastor include the following churches; First United Methodist Church in Conway; Lakewood First United Methodist Church in North Little Rock; and First United Methodist Church in Gentry, Arkansas; He was an active member of Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro, where he taught the “Whosoever Will” Sunday School Class. He was also a mathematics teacher at Ridgefield Christian School and Delta Technical Institute in Marked Tree. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Suzanne Ziegler Gibson.

Gibson attended public school in Green Forest, Conway and Little Rock. He received a BA and a MA degree from the University of Arkansas. He received the BD degree from Perkins School of Theology, SMU, where he served as president of the seminary student body. He served in the United State Army as an infantry officer. He later earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1981.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Gibson of the home; two sons, Mark Gibson (Lisa) of Rogers, Arkansas; Phil Gibson of Atlanta, Georgia; daughters, Marcia Williams (Bob) of Greenville, Mississippi; and Paula Brown of Jonesboro; grandchildren, Timothy, Natalie, Katherine Anne, Joseph, Marina, Matt, Kara, Brady and Ben; four step-daughters, Pam Heath, Michelle Brown, Cindy Carter and Misty King all of Jonesboro; step-grandchildren, Brennan, Brandon, Laren, Stephen, John and Marc; five great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 10:00 Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at Central Baptist Church with Doug Welborn, and Archie Mason officiating with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery with the men of the “Whosoever Will” Sunday School Class and special friends serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 5-7 Monday night at Emerson Memorial Chapel.

For lasting memorials, please consider Mission Outreach Missions, PO BOX 627, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72403-0627; the American Family Association, American Family Association,
P. O. Drawer 2440, Tupelo, Mississippi 38803 or to Mission projects of Central Baptist Church, 3707 Harrisburg Road, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72404. To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfuneralhome.com.