With profound sadness, the Management and Staff of Unity Mortuary announce the passing of our Founder and Patriarch, Mr. Clayton Gibson, Jr. Mr. Gibson slept peacefully away into sweet eternity on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at St. Francis Hospital, Columbus, GA. Please keep the family and the entire staff in your prayers. God is not through with us yet!

Mr. Clayton Gibson, Jr. Life's Journey

On Tuesday afternoon, the God who guides the stars came to a Christian, loving husband, a father, and businessman to guide his soul away.  At St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, Georgia, he gave his love to Jesus where he found Heaven in his heart.

Deacon Clayton Gibson, Jr. was born January 17, 1946, to the late Clayton and Nettie Gibson, Sr. in West Point, Georgia.  He was the fifth child of the bunch and immediately became spoiled by his older siblings and the remainder of the family.  Due to their Mother's illness, his sister, Louise became his first caregiver.  As he began to grow, his babysitters became his uncles, Solomon "Uncle Pete" Gibson and Wyatt Finch, Sr.

He graduated from Rehobeth High School, Class of 1964.  While in High School, his favorite extracurricular activity was playing football.

He enlisted in the United States Army on October 29, 1965.  Upon returning home from Germany, Clayton attended Miles College.

On December 21, 1968, he was united in Holy Matrimony to Silvia Ann Winters.  This union produced his greatest accomplishments: Edrica, Jacobie, and Clayton, III.

Once Clayton settled into married life, he enrolled at Troy State University.

In true "Clayton Fashion" he decided to part from a family of Methodists and became a Baptist and united with Bethlehem Baptist Church of Valley, under the leadership of Reverend Tom Davis.  He was installed as a Deacon in 1973 under the Pastorship of Pastor G. D. McDuffie, by Reverend Ralph Abernathy, and under the guidance of Deacon Willie C. Davis and Deacon Lafayette McCarton.  he would go on to serve as Church Clerk and the Deacon responsible for the Deacon's wives.

Clayton possessed a true Entrepreneur spirit, and while being gainfully employed with Uniroyal, he established Gibson Trucking Company in the mid 1980s; and later, Unity Mortuary in Valley, Alabama.  His passion for the Funeral Service Industry was cultivated while working with his good friend, Mr. Jerome Ward of Ward Funeral Home. Clayton continued to serve as the Owner and Licensed Funeral Director of Unity until his passing.

His favorite hobbies included playing spades, Bid whist, and Dominoes, all of which were laced with plenty of trash talking.  Clayton possessed the most charismatic demeanor, had the most pleasant personality and was always a joy and fun to be around.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, the twins: Jacob and Isaac; and his beloved daughter, Phleshana Edrice Smith.

He leaves to cherish precious memories, his wife of fifty-three years, Mrs. Sylvia W. Gibson, Columbus, GA; his loving, devoted daughter and caregiver, Jacobie (Tymiakal) Howell, Sr.; his devoted son, Dr. Clayton (Dr. Erika) Gibson, III, Powder Springs, GA; the extensions of his heart, his grandchildren: Tierra Calloway, Alexis Smith, Tymiakal Howell, Jr., Jaci Howell, Hailey Gibson, and Haiden Gibson; sisters: Mary Alice McCants and Louise Lane; brother, Richard (Emma) Gibson; sisters-in-law, Pearlie Gibson and Djuana Black; brother-in-law, Lonnie D. (Marsha) Epps; god-daughter, Jacqueline Phillips; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, relatives, and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clayton Gibson, Jr., please visit our floral store.