Today we remember Lucy Coburn not only as she was in her final years, but as she lived throughout the fullness of her life.
Funeral Services remember Lucy’s life will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday July 9, 2026, at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Tippah County. Visitation will be from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM on Wednesday evening July 8, 2026, at the Ripley Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest beside her husband Bob, in Box’s Chapel Cemetery following funeral service.
Lucy was born in late 1936 to Frank and Flora Gibens as the second of six children. She spent most of her childhood in Tippah County alongside her siblings, Wesley, Daniel, Royce “Hop,” Loyce “Molly,” and Patsey “Pat.” As one of the oldest children, she helped her mother care for her three brothers and two sisters. During those early years, she learned many of the skills that would define her throughout her life: sewing, homemaking, quilting, crocheting, cooking, singing, embroidery, and the timeless art of hospitality.
After graduating from high school, Lucy attended Itawamba Junior College before accepting a position at a hospital in Memphis. While living there, she and her girlfriends often spent their free time riding the Whip at the fairgrounds. One evening, a young Marine was dared to sit with the girls. From that night on, Lucy and Bob Coburn were inseparable.
When Bob returned to his station at Cherry Point, North Carolina, the two wrote to each other every day. In February 1957, at the age of 21, Bob returned, proposed to Lucy, and the two were married.
They lived in North Carolina long enough to welcome two daughters, Sandy and Margie, into their family before moving to Baltimore, Maryland, in January 1960. While in Baltimore, they welcomed their first son, Rob. It was also there that Lucy and her young family became active members of Community Evangelical Church. Faith became the cornerstone of their home, and church attendance and ministry remained a central part of family life for decades to come.
Bob and Lucy eventually purchased their first home in Timonium, Maryland, where they continued raising their growing family until Bob’s job transferred them to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1969. There, two more sons, Frank and Dan, were born, and life became a joyful balance of family, church, and work.
Lucy worked as a school transportation secretary and substitute bus driver until she was involved in a serious bus accident. Although her injuries prevented her from returning to work, they never diminished her love for life. She poured her heart into her home, cherished her children, welcomed neighbors and friends with open arms, and delighted in becoming a grandmother.
If you knew Lucy, you knew that no one ever left her home hungry. She loved cooking for her family, but especially for her grandchildren. To them, she wasn’t just Grandma—she was Mawmaw, a name that became synonymous with unconditional love, warm hugs, and a place that always felt like home. One of her greatest joys was gathering everyone around the table, making sure every plate was full and every heart felt loved. Her homemade spaghetti became a family favorite, made with love and served with the kind of warmth that only Mawmaw could provide. Those meals were about much more than food—they were about laughter, togetherness, and creating memories that her family will cherish forever.
Lucy also found joy in life’s simple pleasures. You could often find her sitting in her favorite chair, watching I Love Lucy or The Andy Griffith Show, laughing at the familiar episodes as if they were new, or listening to her beloved gospel music as it filled her home with peace and reminded her of God’s faithfulness. Those quiet moments reflected the gentle, contented spirit that so many came to know and love.
In 1996, Bob’s career took the family to Kansas. Later, through a company merger, they were transferred to Long Island, New York. After spending ten years there, Bob and Lucy retired to Venice, Florida, where they enjoyed another decade of active church life. Retirement also gave them the opportunity to travel frequently to Mississippi, Kansas, and Arizona to spend precious time with their children and grandchildren.
In January 2017, Lucy lost the love of her life when Bob passed away. Life changed in many ways after his death, eventually bringing Lucy to Boca Raton, where she was deeply loved, tenderly cared for, and cherished for the remainder of her days.
Though our hearts are heavy, we find comfort in knowing that Lucy is once again reunited with her beloved Bob and with the family and friends who have gone before her. We can only imagine the joyful reunion that took place as she entered Heaven’s gates. While she will be deeply missed, her love, her laughter, her kindness, and her unwavering faith will remain in our hearts forever.
Today, we celebrate a life well lived. Lucy was a woman of unwavering faith, quiet strength, and unconditional love. She devoted her life to her family, welcomed everyone with genuine hospitality, and found joy in serving others. Whether she was preparing a meal, sewing something by hand, listening to gospel music, or simply spending time with those she loved, Lucy had a way of making everyone feel cared for. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the traditions she passed down, the meals she lovingly prepared, and the faith she instilled in those around her.
