Dorothy Dot Gibson

Dorothy (Dot) Gibson passed peacefully away on Thursday, August 7, 2025. She was born in Mocksville, North Carolina on December 4, 1934, a daughter of the late Lester T. Crider and Maggie Barnes Crider.

Dorthy graduated from Cool Springs High School in Statesville, NC, where she grew up. After marrying Ray Newsome Gibson, they briefly moved to Camden, SC and then to Columbia, where they raised three sons, Keith, Mike and Glenn, and a daughter, Gail. 

Dorothy was a devoted stay at home Mom, who did all she could to provide a loving home for her family. She was an excellent cook and seamstress, and many admired the beautiful outfits she would make for Gail, as well as her Barbie dolls.

Finding herself a widow in 1971, following the death of her husband, Ray, Dorothy took a job with Dean’s Draperies. She thoroughly enjoyed putting her sewing skills to work making luxury draperies and worked at the store as well as during the evening at home. Needing to provide adequate health care coverage for her family, Dorothy took a job with Square D Electrical Company in 1972, where she worked typing name plates for electrical products until her retirement in 1997.

Dorothy met Paul Lynam later in life and they were married on June 14, 2003. They were happily married for almost 14 years. Paul passed away on March 15, 2018, and Dorothy was, once again, a widow.

When she wasn’t working in her flower beds, Dorothy was cooking, baking and making preserves. She was known for her delicious pound cakes and pies, and her banana pudding was second to none. She loved to try new recipes and share them with family and friends. On many occasions, Dorothy would deliver a pound cake or a pecan pie to a home bound friend or neighbor. She was always there to lend a helping hand.

Dorothy’s love for the Lord was evident and she regularly attended church services at Temple Baptist Church, until her health declined. It was a common site to see her Bible open on her desk. She would often cry out to Jesus to help her deal with the anguish of the pain in her back.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Melvin Keith Gibson (Ann), Michael Ray Gibson (Jackie), and Sarah Gail Gibson, grandchildren, Melissa Leigh Cotton and Bradley Keith Gibson, as well as one great-grandson, Austin Shane Cotton. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lester T. Crider and Maggie Barnes Crider, son, Glenn Craig Gibson, husbands Ray Newsome Gibson and Paul Lynam, brothers Bob Crider and Donnie Crider and sister Lucille Keller.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all for your prayers, texts and phone calls. We are also very grateful for the excellent care provided by the staff at Providence Hospital and Hospice. Also, a special thank you to Pastor Gregg for his support as well as the ladies from Temple and the Women to Women Bible Study for so graciously providing lunch for the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to Temple Baptist Church, 806 Universal Drive, Columbia SC, 29209.