Memories that Matter
for families, friends, family history and fans.
Amanda S. Stevenson:
Joe Gibbon - Obituary and Memorial
In 1957, Joe Gibbon scored more points than college contemporaries Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.
Three years later, Gibbon helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win baseball’s championship, defeating the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Joe Gibbon, one of the greatest multi-sport athletes in Mississippi history, died Wednesday at his home in Newton, Mississippi. He was 83.
Gibbon, born in the Newton County town of Hickory, was an All-American basketball player and an All-SEC baseball pitcher for Ole Miss in the mid-1950s.
Later, he played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues and, as a rookie in 1960, was a contributor to the World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates.
Rick Cleveland
At Ole Miss, Gibbon was better known for his basketball skills. A 6-foot-4 forward, he scored second in the nation in 1957 with a 30.2 points-per-game average.
Gibbon averaged a whopping 14 rebounds a game that same season. Grady Nelson of South Carolina led the nation at 31.2 points per game. Here’s what is more impressive: Baylor, who played college ball at Seattle, was next among the nation’s scoring leaders at 29.7, followed by Chamberlain of Kansas at 29.6. Ahead of both Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain? That’s rare company.
Gibbon also played against rare company in the Ole Miss-Mississippi State rivalry when he went against the great Bailey Howell in 1957. What does Howell, another basketball All-American who averaged 27 points and 17 rebounds for his college career, remember about Gibbon?
Bailey Howell
“Well, it’s been – what, 67 years? – but I do remember Joe could shoot the lights out of the gym,” Howell said. “He was left-handed and was a good athlete. I saw him pitch against the Mississippi State baseball team, and I remember he hit one of the longest home runs I ever saw that day.
“We played against him twice my sophomore year,” Howell said. “He was either leading the nation in scoring or was second. I was in the top 10, and my teammate Jim Ashmore was in the top 10. That was truly something when you think about it: three of the top 10 scorers in the nation on the floor simultaneously in Mississippi.”
Curtis Wilkie, Mississippi author and award-winning newspaper reporter, was a high school student at Corinth during Gibbon’s days at Ole Miss. He saw Gibbon play often.
“Ole Miss was very good at that time, but Joe Gibbon was so good,”
Wilkie said. “He was not a graceful athlete. His basketball moves are not classical, but he got the job done. He knew how to use his body. I mean, he averaged more points than Wilt the Stilt that year. He was doing something right.”
Gibbon was drafted by the Boston Celtics in basketball, despite his insistence beforehand that he planned to play professional baseball.
Don Kessinger
Don Kessinger, another of Mississippi’s greatest multi-sport athletes, came to Ole Miss four years after Gibbon departed for professional baseball.
“I never saw Joe play at Ole Miss, but when I got to Oxford, people were still talking about him,” Kessinger said. “Everybody talked about what a great scorer he was as a basketball player.”
Kessinger, an All-American in baseball and basketball at Ole Miss, learned about Gibbon’s baseball skills first-hand.
“Oh yeah, I batted against him many times in the Major Leagues,” Kessinger said. “He was a big left-handed pitcher who threw a heavy ball, a sinking fastball, that produced a lot of ground ball outs. He was a fine pitcher, and he was also a terrific guy, as friendly as could be.”
As a rookie pitching as a starter and in relief, Gibbon had a 4-2 record for the World Champion Pirates. His World Series check for $8,400 was more than his rookie salary of $7,500.
In 1961, his second season, he achieved a 13-10 record, including a career-high three shutouts.
Over 13 seasons with the Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros, Gibbon won 61 games, lost 65, and saved 32 more. His lifetime earned run average was a nifty 3.52. He was often called “Hickory Joe” Gibbon in the Major Leagues.
Gibbon was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Ole Miss Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. On February 21, 2009, he was honored as an Ole Miss Men’s All-Century Basketball Team member.
Visitation will be held Sunday 3-6 p.m. at the Newton County Funeral Home-South in Newton. Funeral Services will be held Monday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m. at Newton County Funeral Home-South.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Price Gibbon. Survivors include his children, Joe Gibbon Jr., David Gibbon (Kristi), Jennifer Gibbon Seal, Luke Gibbon (Dawn), and Dan Gibbon.
Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Clarke College Alumni Scholarship Fund and/or the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Museum.
This tribute was requested by his cousin's daughter Lenora Castles Bryant. She visited with Joe Gibbon three times and said he was the nicest man she ever met.
Nichole Wright:
Daughter of Louis (Luigi) Branno and Teresa Conado.
Was married to husband Joseph Marino and had multiple children, though where she married Joseph to this day is still not known (most probably in the USA), nor is where they met or how.
There does seem to be a fairly large age gap between Joseph and Laura, however, Laura seems to be slightly older than her own official records state as at the time she was having her first child she would have been 14.
Joseph was a traveling musician (harpist) and would play for the people on riverboats going up and down the Ohio River.
As a result, he was away from home a good portion of the time leaving Laura alone.
It is unclear if Laura had an affair with the next door neighbor on Water St. named John Williams, or if she and Joseph had technically already gone separate ways but kept appearances up. Divorce in this period of time was extremely uncommon.
Either way, Laura bore John Williams (Guglielmo) a son named Michael Angelo Antonio Guglielmo (who frequently went in record sets by Tony or Anthony Marino).
She helped mind 2 different boarding houses run by the Branno family, one at 116 W. Front St, and then at 308 West Water St. where she presumably cooked and cleaned for the 7 additional occupants as well as for her own children. She lived on Water St. until she passed away.
The area in which they lived in Cincinnati was incredibly prone to flooding, and did so frequently (sometimes historically so).
Life certainly wasn't easy, and without her I wouldn't be here.
Shelley Cardiel:
I have an old studio photograph identified as Freddy THOMPSON which was taken at the Wells & Goodwin Studio in Norwich, NY and dated 11 Sept 1871. Freddy is identified as 3 years old at the time the photograph was taken. I believe that this is a photograph of Frederick F. THOMPSON and based on limited research I was able to gather the following information regarding Freddy and his family:
Frederick “Freddy” Foote THOMPSON was b. 1869 in Norwich, NY to parents James Guernsey THOMPSON (1829-1892) and Julia Frances FOOTE (1834-1902). Freddy had two siblings including William James THOMPSON (1864-1944) and Dillaye G. THOMPSON (1872-1919). Freddy died in Mar 1902 in Mexico City, Mexico.
I would like to get the photograph to family and appreciate you contacting me if you are a member of this family of know someone who might be.
Thanks,
Shelley
Shelley Cardiel:
I’ve got an old studio photograph of Rev. John POLLOCK which was taken at the Gilbert Temple Studio in Clinton, IA. John is identified as “Brother” on the back of this photograph which was likely taken in the 1890’s with John appearing to be in his 60’s or 70’s at the time it was taken. Based on limited research I was able to locate the following information regarding John and his family:
John POLLOCK was b. 3 Oct 1821 in Strabane, Ireland, to James POLLOCK (1785-1864) and Margaret MCINTIRE (1797-1837) who were married in Ireland in 1820. John was one of 10 children born to this couple including John; Isabella; Joseph; Andrew; Aaron; William; Ann; James; Margaret; and Eliza POLLOCK, all born between 1821 and 1837. John married Eunice or Emmice Alvira or Elvira ELLIS (1824-1895) on 1 May 1849 in Woodstock, VT.
John and his wife had 5 children including Loring Lee POLLOCK (b. 1851); John Loring POLLOCK (1852-1941); Charles Andrew POLLOCK (1853-1928); William Ellsworth or Elsworth POLLOCK (1861-1922); and Guy Evans POLLOCK, all born between 1851 and 1865. John died 23 Feb 1896 in Clinton County, IA and is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Clinton, IA.
I would like to get the photograph to a family member and would appreciate you contacting me if you are a member of this family, or you know someone who might be.
Thanks,
Shelley
Shelley Cardiel:
I have an old studio photograph of Bessie Pearl HUNTRESS which is dated 7 Apr 1884 and was taken at the L. Dowe Studio in San Francisco, CA. She appears to be about 1-2 years old at the time the photograph was taken. The photograph also appears to have been gifted "To Mrs. BLACKWELL". Based on limited research I was able to gather the following information regarding Bessie and her family:
Bessie Pearl HUNTRESS was b. 16 Feb 1883 in San Francisco, CA to parents Oscar Peter HUNTRESS (1847-1910) and Harriet “Hattie” E. G. SPENCER (1862-1910) who were married 6 May 1882 in San Jose, CA. Bessie was one of 6 children born to this couple including Bessie Pearl; Baby Girl; Mary Dolores; Georgia or Georgianna Lulu or Lula; Baby Boy; and Helen or Henrietta Harriet HUNTRESS, all born between 1883 and 1895. Bessie’s father had a child from an earlier marriage, Herbert Channing HUNTRESS (1869-1930).
Bessie married James B. or E. CAMERON (1877-1913) on 21 Jan 1904 in San Jose, CA and they had four children including Adelaide “Ada” or “Addie” Bessie; Alfred; Lauder or Lander Charles; and Christina CAMERON, all born between 1906 and 1909. Bessie also married a second time to Raymond “Ray” Martin GILBERT (1882-1981) on 29 May 1918 in San Francisco, CA. Bessie died 22 Nov 1953 in Santa Clara County, CA.
I’d like to get this photograph to a family member and would appreciate you contacting me if you are a member of this family or know someone who might be.
Thanks,
Shelley
Dana Howard:
Billy was born June 19 1974 to Vernon Holt and Theresa Higby Holt. He was born and raised in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He attended and graduated from Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He had one brother Bobby Holt. He married Dana Howard in December 2004 and had one son Jaxom, who he deeply loved. Billy had a love for drag racing. He spent hours working on his fox body mustang and racing it on the weekends. He also loved riding his Harley in the mountains. He spent his weekends spending time with family and friends at the drag strip. He loved beyond measure and was a wonderful husband and Father.
Daniel Pinna:
DAISY PRICE MELTON, 103 years old, left us on Jan. 22, 2005. Services were held in Phila. on Jan. 29, 2005. Daisy was born in Johnsville, GA on May 18, 1901. We all will miss her warm smile and wonderful laugh. Devoted mother of Annie B., George, Millie, Thelma, Annie Davis and Bobby. Loving grandmother of 43; great grand mother of 122; great great grand mother of 60; great great great grand mother of 12; and a host of family and friends. We will all miss you.
- The Philadelphia Daily News, Friday February 4th 2005
Michele Fiumefreddo:
Grandma - I remember the days you would pick us up and bring us to Staten Island.i remember us always stopping on way to our new house getting fruit stepped gum from pork store.ill never forget uncle Bobby throwing us out at 6 am because i ate his chocolate.you had such beautiful red hair and you were tuff as they come.i miss you grandma so does dad.forever in our hearts.
Kelley Farr:
Daughter - John H Farr is my father. I have so many memories but I will talk about the family reunion house the farr family built when I was young The house was on a lake with a dock, not sure of the exact town or lake but my memory remembers Buda Tx west of Austin. I know Dad had Family that lived in George Town east of Austin. I was so young I slept in the back of Dads truck, that old white truck he kept forever, at the “lake house” I don’t remember ever sleeping in a bed, however I eventually earned a spot inside on the floor. I remember Uncle David, he was the grill master and Aunt Bea and Grandma Farr, eating huge meals, especially breakfast. If you know what I’m talking about it is a good memory and there are not many of those from childhood. This was probably the early 70’s maybe even late 60’s.
Anita LeNorman:
Glenda was an angel - Glenda was my stepmom. She was one of the sweetest people you could ever know. She was kind, sweet and loving.
I did manage to see her later in life but later lost touch due to my cancer diagnosis. I hoped she knew that I loved her dearly and still think about her and miss her so much.
Joan Gates:
Grandpa Lewis (Dad) - Carl was my maternal grandfather, I was his first born grand child, Joan Croce. Many happy memories of going to the fire stations with him and getting to sit on the fire trucks, also he would hold me up to the fire pole and let me slide down. My youngest aunt Pat was only 9 months older than me, her and my mom called him Dad, so that was what I called him also. He was visiting at my mom and dad's house one day, he was sitting on the couch and me being probably 3 years old decided to comb his hair, being a fireman. Was very meticulous in his hair clothing and everything, but he let me comb his hair, after a while they all noticed that the comb was wet after I had been in another room, they followed me the next time and found out I was dipping the comb in the toilet to comb his hair. Having 8 kids of his own, living on a fireman's salary he didn't have a lot of money but as far back as I can remember, on my birthday he always gave me a silver dollar for each year of age I was. He passed in 1948 at age 53, but at 90 year's old myself (2025), the memories are still so very clear in my mind.
