James Gibson, 84, of North Carolina

Rev. James Wiley Gibson, 84, of Franklin, N.C., went home to be with his Lord on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. 

He was born in Macon County on Nov. 26, 1929, the eldest son of the late Rev. James Carroll Gibson and Eva Jane Houston Gibson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Geneva Guffey Elliott. 

Wiley grew up in the Liberty community on Cowee Creek. He was saved and joined the Liberty Baptist Church, where he served the church as Sunday school director, teacher and deacon before going into ministry. 

In 1962 he was ordained into the ministry of our Lord. He pastored churches in Macon, Jackson and Haywood counties. 

In 1973 he moved to Dillon to start the Beaverhead Baptist Mission, which later became the Beaverhead Baptist Church. He moved back to Franklin to pastor the Longview Baptist Church. In 1983 he moved back to Montana to pastor the Libby Baptist Church in Libby.

He later returned to Macon County to continue his ministry and pastored numerous churches around the area. 

In his 52 years of ministry, he pastored churches in North Carolina, Washington and Montana. Wiley was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid outdoorsman. 

He is survived by his wife of 62 years Allie Hedden Gibson; children Freda Raby of Mitchell, Ga., Barbara June Raby and husband Tim of Clarkesville, Ga., James Connie Gibson and wife Janice, Larry Gibson and Kathie Gibson Parris, all of Franklin; brother Rev. Carson Gibson and wife Sonjia of Franklin; sister Eloise Poindexter of Franklin; 10 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.  

Funeral Service were held Nov. 11 at Windy Gap Baptist Church in Franklin, N.C. Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com