Evelyn Ray Gibbs

Evelyn Ray Gibbs, aged 92 years, died in the Cleveland Pines Nursing Center, Shelby, North Carolina, on April 23, 2007. Born in Rutherford County, North Carolina she was the only child of Maude Sams Gibbs and Emmett Wyattman Gibbs who was a general practitioner of medicine in Shelby, from 1918 until his death in 1952. Maude Sams Gibbs died in 1969.

Miss Gibbs was a member of First Baptist Church in Shelby. She was a 1932 graduate of Mars Hill Junior College, Mars Hill, North Carolina, and a 1934 graduate of Limestone College, Gaffney, South Carolina. She was an accomplished pianist, vocalist, and painter. Her vocal training was under the direction of Earl Razor who was a member of the New York City Metropolitan Opera Company. Frank Stephenson, a noted illustrator, and also Angelo Cangiamila and Alfred Hockings were her art instructors over many years. Her art studio was on the upper level of her beloved home, “El Nido”, which was built in the 1930’s by her parents at 520 West Warren Street, in Shelby. She resided in “El Nido” until 2001 when she became a resident of Alterra Sterling House in Shelby.

In her later years, Miss Gibbs developed an avid interest in dolls acquiring an extensive collection which she housed in the “dolls’ room” of her residence. She also became very interested in the historic preservation of her home and others throughout Cleveland County. In 2001 she was recognized for her hard work and devotion to the cause of historic preservation by the presentation to her of Historic Shelby Foundation’s “Lifetime Preservation Achievement Award”.

Miss Gibbs is survived by her cousins, Charlotte Clouse Norton and Emmett Sams of Mars Hill, N.C. and Sammy Sams of Raleigh, N.C. and many friends who genuinely loved her.

A graveside funeral service in Sunset Cemetery in Shelby at 3:00 o’clock p.m., Friday, April 27, 2007, will be conducted by the Reverend Tony Tench. Friends of Miss Gibbs are invited to meet at Clay-Barnette Funeral Home in Shelby from 1:30 to 2:30 o’clock p.m. that day. Memorials may be made to “The Evelyn Ray Gibbs Trust” for the benefit of the Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina, Inc., First Narional Bank of Shelby, Trustee, c/o R. Craver, P.O. Box 877, Shelby, N.C. 28151, or to a charity of one’s choice.