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

He was born in Macon County on November 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. While pastoring in Macon he attended Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in Hendersonville, NC. In 1973 he moved to Dillon, Montana 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, Montana. He later returned to Macon County to continue his ministry and pastored numerous churches around the area. He was the oldest active member of the Macon Baptist Association and was a member of Windy Gap Baptist Church. 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; five 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; ten grandchildren; twenty two great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 11, at Windy Gap Baptist Church. Rev. Carson Gibson, Rev. Mark Bishop, Rev. Alton Dendy, Rev. Jim Dusek and Rev. Don Moffitt will officiate. Burial will be in the Shepherd Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday, November 10, at Macon Funeral Home.

Deacons of Windy Gap Baptist Church will serve as Pallbearers. Grandsons will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com

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