Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Lee Roach Gonzalez, 87, passed peacefully from this life on June 9th, 2026, surrounded by her family. Libby was born in Big Cove, Alabama on November 26, 1938. She was an only child but was never lonely surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins from both sides of her family. She spent many hours with them and often spoke of their influence on her in addition to her parents. Libby was also blessed to have many dear, lifelong friends from her childhood and college years who modeled beautiful expressions of true friendship. She graduated from Madison County High School in 1954 and Athens College in 1958 with a degree in Education. It was there she met the love of her life, Jesus Jose Gonzalez (Joe) (Havana, Cuba). They were married on June 5th, 1959.
Her large family heritage instilled in her the joy of her Christian faith in God, acts of service and togetherness. In her church homes, she was especially active supporting the food ministry and any type of event related to food. She spent many hours planning and baking her famous yeast rolls but mostly enjoyed the camaraderie of the men and women in the kitchen.
She was a gifted and beloved teacher in the Madison County School system for many years with most of her tenure at Bob Jones High School. She took joy in teaching Advanced Placement English and Spanish, English Literature, Grammar, and writing. Among other roles, Libby also served as Scholar’s Bowl Sponsor as well as Dance Team Sponsor and challenged her students to reach their full academic potential.
Gardening was one of her greatest passions and she planted all varieties of flowers and vegetables wherever she lived. Her roses came back year after year, and she enjoyed cutting them for display in her home or to bring as a gift on a visit. She provided bulbs as gifts to her daughters that will be a beautiful remembrance of her love and care.
Libby instilled in her children and grandchildren the value of education, a love for holidays, a desire to experience nature and to always have a meal together. She took her greatest joy in being with family and spent many hours with them throughout their lives. She was a much loved and treasured Gamma.
Her cats, Pippa and Maria, were special companions whom she revered and treated as children in her later years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John Higgins Roach (1967) and Annie Lee (Miller) Roach Hilliard, (1990); a son, John Antony (Tony) Gonzalez (1977) and a grandson, Jacob Haden Greenberg (2005).
She is survived by two daughters, Susi Caranne Mann (Paul) of Huntsville, Alabama and Elizabeth Hope Greenberg (Adam) of Woodmere, New York and six grandchildren, Seth Greenberg, Joanna Greenberg and Elijah Greenberg (Woodmere, New York), Caitlyn Trousdale and Lila Grace Mann (Huntsville, Alabama) and Scot Augustson, (Birmingham, Alabama).
Visitation will be 10:00 am – 11:00 am on Monday, June 15, 2026 followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 am at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. A private family burial will be held at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805 (https://hsv.bg.org).
