Bibbons, Emma Pearl Lover Tisby Brown (Mrs. Jerry C.)
1/1/1997
| Emma Pearl was born January 26, 1923 in Shreveport, Louisiana. She was the eighth child of the late Joseph and Rosa Hall Lover. Her early years were spent in the public schools of Caddo Parish. She was nurtured in the church and joined Saint James Methodist Church May, 1945 under Rev. J.C. Calvin. She studied at many institutions and was given a scholarship while still in high school for honors to Stillman Junior College, Tuscaloosa, AL. She attended Alabama State (B.A. Degree), Grambling University, Grambling, LA (B.A. Degree) and Prairie View A.M., Prairie View, TX (M.A. Degree). In 1964 Mrs. Bibbons traveled to Europe and had an audience with Pope Paul VI. She also traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Africa. Mrs. Bibbons, as she was affectionately called, had a deep and abiding faith in God as we know Him through Jesus Christ. That made her different, as she was often told. She loved people and had a special sensitivity and empathy for the poor, the distressed, the lonely, the troubled, the friendless and where others saw only the dross in a person, Mrs. Bibbons would always point out the gold. She held membership in organizations such as: the YWCA; the NEA; LA Teachers Association; Louisiana Conference Council on Ministries; National Conference of Christians and Jews; National Association of University Women; and the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Her life was devoted to her family and to teaching. She took delight in telling you the love she shared with all of her husbands, her father, and her children. She was a dedicated teacher and taught everywhere she went – in the grocery stores, on the streets, in the elevators, in the malls, and in restaurants. The late Rev. Bibbons often told her to please stop teaching for a while and just be his wife. Mrs. Bibbons built her life on the rock-like foundation of the truth as found in Jesus Christ so when the storm of life was raging, Jesus stood by her because of her firm foundation. Widow of the late Reverend J.C. Bibbons of New Orleans, mother, grandmother and homemaker, the supreme prayer of her heart was not to be rich, famous powerful or “too good,” but to be radiant. She radiated good health, calmness, courage, cheerfulness and goodwill. Her wish was to live without hate, whim, jealousy, envy or fear. She also wished to be simple, honest, frank, natural, clear in mind and clean in body; unaffected, ready to say, “I do not know,” if so it be, to meet all men on an absolute equality, to face any obstacle and meet every difficulty unabashed and unafraid. To this she prayed, “That’s a Radiant Life.” She died in Shreveport, Louisiana in the year of our Lord, 1997. She is survived by three sons, Matthew Joseph Tisby, Michael Andrew Tisby, Gerald Godfrey Tisby; three adopted daughters, Norma Jean Rivers Gordon, Deborah Lover Rivers, Jefferda Cyrus; four grandchildren, Kimberly Rose Tisby, Derrick Jamar Tisby, Brian Gregory Tisby, Michele Dionne Tisby; one sister, Beatrice Lover Brown, and a host of nieces and nephews. |
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| Source: Journal Louisiana Conference, 1997; p. 262 By Rev. Matthew Tisby & Family | |
