Mimi Angela Gibbons

Mimi Angela Gibbons, a longtime resident of Statesboro, Georgia,  passed away Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Atlanta. She was 82.

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Mimi De Maria was born on June 21, 1938. She attended New Utrecht High School in that borough and was on the Twirling Team when it was invited to perform at Madison Square Garden. Later, she attended Hofstra College.  She met her husband John Gibbons in Manhattan, they became engaged on their third date and married in 1960.

Mimi and John lived for a few years in Long Island and then in Middletown, N.J., before settling in Statesboro Georgia in 1979, where they raised their "four wonderful daughters" as Mimi always said.

Two years ago, Mimi and John moved to Atlanta to be near three of their daughters.

While in Statesboro, the Gibbons family lived in Irongate.  Mimi  was active with her Gourmet Club, collecting recipes from all over the world. She was also a devoted member of her Wednesday Bridge Ladies group.

A noted businesswoman, once her daughters were grown, for many years Mimi owned and operated a Diet Center in Statesboro. Her love of cooking was reflected in an award-winning health-and-food column she wrote for the Statesboro Herald. Many of her articles were reprinted in the Naples Sun Times in Florida. An accomplished writer, Mimi also self-published four "Ashleigh Warren" mysteries, still available on Amazon.

Mimi  loved to travel. In addition to many trips across the United States, some of her overseas ventures included France, Asia, Italy, Russia, Egypt and a surprise visit to old friends from Middletown in Ireland. She once said that she hated to drive by an airport and see jets departing without her.

She is survived by her devoted husband John, her husband of 61 years; four daughters, Jackie Wammock (Sam), of Atlanta; Laurie Gibbons (Jesse), of Santa Rosa, CA; Karen Feagin (Will), of Atlanta; Allison Tokar (Kory), of Dublin, GA; an adored brother, Lawrence, of Naples, FL, and nine grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, Lena and Vincent De Maria, of Statesboro.

Family will receive friends in the Chapel of Deal Funeral Directors on Friday, May 7, 2021 from 3:00-5:00 PM.

Memorial Contributions may be made, if so wished, to St. Jude Children's Hospital, Heifer International or a charity of your choosing.

A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Saint Matthew Catholic Church with a reception to follow.