Bashaba S. Gibbons

Bashaba S. Gibbons, 85 of Houston passed away December 20, 2023. Bashaba was born August 2, 1938, in Mobil, Alabama to Wendell and Alva Sowell. She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings Wendell and Darrell Sowell and husband Joseph of 53 years of marriage. She is survived by her son Joseph T. Gibbons Jr., nieces Lisa Scott, Cindy Sowell, nephew Andrew Sowell. Bashaba grew up in Auburn, Alabama and graduated from Auburn High School in 1956 from Auburn University in 1960. Bashaba was the oldest of 3 children. She was given and felt the responsibility of watching out for her younger brothers. Most of her younger years were spent with her relatives’ farm in Mississippi where she milked the cows, gathered eggs, fed the animals and lots of playing with her cousins and younger uncles. Seeing as her father had been in the Army Air Corps before was called Air Force, she and her siblings were very disciplined and well mannered. Her family was Baptist and Bashaba learned to respect and worship God from the time she could talk. Her Faith was always strong and only got stronger as she grew older. When Bashaba graduated high school, she entered Auburn University where she graduated in 1960. While a junior at Auburn, Bashaba was on her way to work at her part time job at the Tiger Theater. There, a friend of hers introduced her to a young man in the Army that was home visiting on leave. His name was Joseph Gibbons. In March of 1960 they were married at the Baptist church in Auburn Alabama. After the wedding they went straight to Fort Detrick in Maryland where Joe was finishing out his stint in the Army. They moved to Fort Worth Texas where Bashaba had a job waiting at the Tarrant County DA Office. In February of 1964 she gave birth to her son Joseph. Soon after the family moved to Houston where Bashaba began her insurance career with Prudential Insurance for 15 years slowly moving up in the ranks to Group Supervisor. In 1979 the family moved to Alabama to be closer to their families. She worked in the Insurance Industry for the next 3-1/2 years before getting a call from Prudential to come back to work in Houston. So, the family moved back to Houston. Bashaba worked for Prudential Insurance, Highland Insurance and AIG Insurance for the next 34 years. Bashaba was Group Supervisor, Claims Supervisor, District Supervisor, and Area Supervisor before retiring. During this time in the insurance industry, Bashaba made her best lifelong friends that became more like family over the years. She met and worked with her 4 best friends while working at Prudential during 60’s and 70’s. During the 90’s Bashaba also worked for Garden Ridge Pottery part time in evenings for almost 10 years. She said because she loved to meet and help people. Bashaba enjoyed crocheting, knitting, sewing, fishing, camping, boating, gardening, baking, and being with friends and family. She loved helping her friends and neighbors making handmade items for them often from her crocheting. She had made sweaters, afghans and blankets. She made clothes for herself and family members. She loved to fish with her husband and son. They would go out on their boat and spend the night at times while fishing. They would go camping on the river in summer with friends and family always having fellowship and lots of fun. She also spent time at their condos in Galveston and Gulf Shores during the warmer months on the beaches. And in the fall was known to go to the condo in the mountains in Tennessee. Bashaba would try to attend every family reunion that she could make. This was because of how dear to her family she always was. Bashaba was a warm caring person who would help a stranger if she could and did on many occasions. Once while on a trip to visit relatives, we stopped to get gas and Bashaba saw a homeless man there and gave him some sandwiches she had made to eat on the drive and some sodas. In multiple occasions she took in family members that had come upon hard times and needed a place to live and get their lives back on track. She was always giving money to her family members that needed some monetary help at times because her and her husband put others needed before their own. Bashaba was also very nurturing to others, especially younger people. She was looked on as a second mother to some in their younger years as they were growing up. Bashaba always believed that mentoring others and being a positive role model is very important. She showed others the love that she was taught to show because it was said in the Bible to show compassion and love to others. To help them and feed and clothe them. To take them in and help them. Bashaba believed in following Matthew 25:35-45. she taught her son at a very early age to worship and pray to God and to give thanks for everything that we have. Bashaba loved and put God ahead of her family and friends. She would say she put God first, family second, friend third and country forth. But that the 2nd 3rd and 4th could sometimes get moved around if something of urgency arises in either one. A visitation beginning at 6:00 PM and Vigil Service at 7:00 PM will be held Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at Dettling Funeral Home 14094 Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77079. Mass of Christian Burial will be the following morning Thursday, 10:30 AM, January 4, 2024, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail Houston, TX 77079 with reception to follow in St. Jude Hall. In Lieu of flowers please consider a charitable donation to St Jude Children Research Hospital.

Bashaba S. Gibbons

August 2, 1938 - December 20, 2023