Martha Gibbs Cloyd, 86, of Gadsden, peacefully went home to be with the Lord Nov. 5.
Martha was the 7th of 8 children born to Clarence & Virary Gibbs. She grew up in Owl’s Holler and attended Emma Samson High School. As a young lady Martha was very adventurous and enjoyed traveling the country visiting her older siblings and their families in Georgia, California, and Alabama helping to care for her many nieces and nephews.
When she was 20 years old, she married Phil Cloyd and into that union three children were born: Philip Daniel Cloyd (Corene) Lancaster County Pennsylvania, Lola Margaret Cloyd, Gasden, and James Marvin Cloyd (Karen) Marian Iowa. Their family traveled all over the country – from Alabama to Iowa to Missouri to Western Kansas to Texas to Florida to Michigan back to Kansas then Florida back to Kansas then Texas and in 1983 she moved back to Gadsden, Alabama, to care for her aging mother. In all Martha’s journal indicates that she moved approximately 70 times throughout her lifetime.
Over the years Martha held a number of jobs from: picking cotton, housekeeping at motels, taking care of children of military families, waitressing, helping care for her nieces and nephews, managing 2 different restaurants, owning and operating a 30-room historic motel and restaurant, manufacturing electronic equipment and working in quality control.
Martha came to know Christ as a young person and served in the church in her younger years. Passing her faith on to her family was important to her and her faith became more important to her as she aged. She loved her family and faithfully served them throughout her lifetime.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents Clarence & Viray Gibbs, her siblings: Ruby Gibbs Thomas, John Marvin Gibbs, James Edward Gibbs, Henry Grady Gibbs, Dan Gibbs, Mary Joyce Gibbs Hyde, Willie Frank Gibbs and their spouses.
She is survived and loved by her three children’s families, four grandchildren, one great grandson, two stepdaughters and their families, and her many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to caregivers Lynn Bunt and Shirley Bray and nurse Kaylee from Enhabit Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Enhabit Home Health & Hospice in memory of Martha Cloyd.
