Reagan Phillip Gibbs, 87, died on Sunday, September 1, 2024, in Murfreesboro, TN. He was the son of the late Reagan (Judge) Gibbs and Johnie Fae McDonald Gibbs of Lebanon, TN.
Both the Gibbs and McDonald’s family roots were in East Texas, but his parents fell in love with and eventually settled in Lebanon, TN where Reagan and his siblings spent much of their childhood and young adult lives. He attended Castle Heights Military Academy and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1955. He played guard on both high school basketball teams and was the high scorer at Lebanon High School during his senior year.
Following high school, he attended Belmont College, graduating with a B.A. from Baylor University. Reagan undertook two years’ study at the Edinburgh University School of Divinity in Scotland where he also played on the Divinity School’s championship basketball team winning a “blue” letter which was the school’s highest sports recognition. Most importantly, it was there that he established an abiding dedication to reading which continued for the rest of his life.
Prior to his return to the U.S., Reagan traveled across western Europe and Israel, spending a summer living in Israel, and working on a Kibbutz. While there, he attended a number of hearings during the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann.
Upon his overseas return, Reagan attended and received his Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Thereafter, he attended Vanderbilt Divinity School over a number of years, graduating with his Doctorate.
Reverend (Rev.) Gibbs got the call to the First Presbyterian Church of Spring Hill, TN where he was ordained and installed. His pastorates over the years included ministries in West Virginia, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, Maryland, and Georgia. While ministering in Union, W. VA., Rev. Gibbs was asked to become town mayor where he served for several years.
Throughout these pastorates, Rev. Gibbs continued his pattern of life-long learning attending 10 summers at Princeton Theological Seminary in NJ and spending additional vacations at universities and seminaries near his churches. An avid and constant reader, he studied not only theology, but also, history especially the American Civil War, World Wars I and II becoming something an amateur expert on World War II.
After Rev. Gibbs retired from the ministry in 1992, he moved to Murfreesboro. He could be seen walking across campus to the MTSU Library on a near daily basis for many years or attending classes, reading, and studying at the Sewanee School of Theology during several summers. On Saturdays in the fall and spring, he followed college football and basketball with great enthusiasm.
Dr. Gibbs, a bachelor, is survived by his beloved identical twin, Raymond, and his wife, of Murfreesboro and Chevy Chase MD; his sister Jane Overall of Lebanon, TN and nephew Robert Overall III and his wife of Hendersonville, TN, as well as his significant friend, Ann Evans, of Atlanta, GA. He is further survived by five nieces and nephews of his predeceased sister, Johnie Osborne, and their children and grandchildren.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Woodfin Funeral Chapels
