Profiles of Prominent Citizens

WILLIAM ELVIE GIBSON
Veteran Merchant and Manager of Local Suwannee Store

Written March 24, 1950

A native of neighboring Ware County, William Elvie Gibson was born in 1893, moving to Charlton County with his family at the age of nine years. He is a son of the late Judge Henry G. Gibson and Martha Highsmith Gibson, both members of prominent pioneer families of this county.

Mr. Gibson's father, the late Judge H.G. Gibson, served as Charlton County's judge of the Court of Ordinary for several years, being in that important office at the time of his death. He was a native of Charlton County, being a brother of the late Elder W.O. Gibson. With the exception of one year in Brooks County and several years in Ware, Judge Gibson was a life-long citizen of Charlton County, having reared a large family of sons and daughters, among them being the subject of this sketch.

Upon returning to Charlton from Ware, Judge Gibson and his family lived at the old Baker Place, now the Lee Chancey farm, where W.E. Gibson aided his father with the farm work until 18 years old. At that age he struck out for himself, working at a sawmill near the Okefenokee for several years.

Thereafter, while still a young man, Mr. Gibson bought a store at Hopkins, also being appointed postmaster there, the post office being known as Lamden, Ga. which has since been discontinued. After operating the store and serving as postmaster at Hopkins for five years, the establishment was destroyed by fire whereupon the business there was discontinued.

Mr. Gibson then went to work in the shipyards in Brunswick where he was employed during a period of the first World War, together with a large number of other Charlton County citizens..
At the close of the war in 1918, Mr. Gibson came back to Folkston, being employed as a salesman in the firm of Dean & Gowen, who operated a general mercantile business in the building now occupied by the Suwannee Store. He was with this concern for four or five years after which he bought a general mercantile business in the old Rodgers Building now occupied by Thompson's Drug Store. The business was acquired from L.E. Mallard and Sol P. Mills and continued for twenty years. He then sold it to O.E. Raynor, accepting a position with the State Road Camp near this city.

About two years ago Mr. Gibson took over the management of the local Suwannee Store which he has since successfully operated and where he now carries on one of the city's leading mercantile concerns.

A member of the Free-Will Baptist Church Mr. Gibson received his education in the public schools of Charlton County. He was first married in 1912 to Miss Emma Altman of this county. To this union four children were born, a son Wallace, now an officer in the US Navy and who was a prisoner of war in a Japanese war prison during the late World War Two; three daughters, Mrs. Lorene Howard of Orlando, Mrs. Irene Kimball of Charlotte, N.C. and Mrs. Marcelle Williford of Rock Hill, S.C.

Following the death of his first wife in 1928, Mr. Gibson was married in 1930 to Miss Lena Mae Raynor of Linden, N.C. To this union three daughters have been born, Misses Oleta Merle of Orlando, Lanier, a student nurse in Atlanta and Edna Mae at home.

Mr. Gibson's hobby is hunting and fishing. He is widely regarded as being one of the community's most loyal and public-spirited citizens.

March 24, 1950

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