07/01/2026
Essie Mae Gibbs was born in Center, Texas to Mr. Jeff Ree Randle and Mrs. Eula Mae Randle on April 23, 1932. Essie departed this life on Tuesday Night at Five Points Nursing and Rehab of DeSoto, Texas on June 23, 2026. At an early age, Mrs. Essie joined Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ and kept her faith until her last breath, attending services for many years until she was unable to.
Visitation is 10-5pm on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at Community Funeral Home Chapel in Center. Funeral service is at 10am on Thursday, July 2, 2026 at Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ, 908 Daniels Street, Center, Texas 75935 with Bishop Howard Cloudy St., Pastor. Interment is at Westview Cemetery in Center.
She attended High School where she was the Valedictorian of her graduating class. As an adult, she worked local cooking jobs at night and at East Texas Poultry during the day to take care of her family. During those years, she bore four children (Sherry Chiles, Dana Randle, Charlette Jackson, and Jacqueline Gibbs) and married Ray Gibbs, who was born in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, where the two married, but he was raised in Possum Trott, TX., where they lived as a family before moving to Center, TX. to continue their lives together. She loved to play dominoes, work crossword puzzles and knit for fun. Essie is remembered for her sweet smile and laugh, her unwavering faith, her incredible strength and her unending courage. She was and remains a one of a kind woman.
Essie Mae Gibbs is preceded in death by husband, Ray Gibbs; father, Jeff Ree Randle; mother, Eula Mae Randle; three sisters, Dorothy Randle, Ruthie Hill, and Myrtle Randle Garrett; son, Dana Randle; granddaughter, Tamara Harris; two sisters-in-law, Mary Gean Cartwright Thompson and Gloria Nell Johnson; mother-in-law, Lee Ella Cartwright Stotts; father-in-law, Aaron Stotts; and her dearest, lifelong friend, "Curly B."
She leaves to cherish her memory:
Brothers:
Jeff Randle (Jessie) of Fort Worth, TX
James Randle (Jen) of California
Sisters:
Towanna Kirkland of Houston TX
Giselle Randle of Fort Worth, TX
Mary Randle of California
Daughters:
Sherry Chiles of Grand Prairie, TX
Charlette Jackson (Patrick) of Ferris, TX
Jacqueline Gibbs of Dallas, TX
Granddaughters:
Curtiska Gibbs of Venus
Charletta Jackson of Ferris
Dana L. Stiggers (Tristan) of Dallas
Grandsons:
Onaska Evans (Monica) of Center
Vincent Williams Jr. (Timberly) of Farmersville
Patrick O. Jackson (Emily) of San Augustine
Alex Jackson of California
Sisters-in-law:
Queen Ester Chumble of Center
Ruby Osby of Center
Velma Gibbs of Longview
Daisy Gibbs of Longview
Peggy Gibbs of Longview
Great-grandchildren (Nineteen), cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Services are entrusted to Community Funeral Home, Center, Texas.
