Family Elders
Cora Lee Ingram Gibson
George Gibson
Matthew Gibson, Sr
Mary Lou Gibson-Morgan-Wright
Our Family Story
Where We Came From, How We Grew, and Why We Gather
Every family has a story—ours is one of resilience, faith, hard work, and deep roots across Georgia and South Carolina. Through generations, our ancestors-built lives from the land, raised large families, and passed down values that still guide us today. This history reminds us why staying connected through family reunions is so important.
Our Gibson Roots
Our story begins with Larry Gibson, the grandfather of Larry Benny Gibson, who married Esther Bugg. Together, they had two sons, George Gibson and John Henry Gibson, born in 1871.
As a young man, John Henry Gibson found work cutting pulpwood in the swamps near Harlem, Georgia. Sadly, he lost contact with his brother George and never heard from him again. Life was hard, but John Henry continued to move where work was available, determined to provide for his family.
John Henry married Fannie Golatte, his first wife, in Harlem, Georgia. They had three children:
Larry Benny Gibson, born November 21, 1893
Nellie Gibson (Goode), born July 4, 1895
Addie Gibson, born April 19, 1896
After Fannie’s passing, John Henry moved to Ellenton, South Carolina, where he worked as a crate maker at Dunollar Mill. Ellenton was a small farming town founded in 1880, later displaced in the 1950s to make way for the Savannah River Site.
John Henry later married Cora Ingram of the Dunbarton area in Barnwell County, South Carolina. Together, they had a large family, including
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Matthew
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George Sr.
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Columbus
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Arthur
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James
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Benjamin
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John Henry Jr.
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Bessie Gibson‑Watkins
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Nellie Gibson‑Butler
Around 1922, John Henry and Cora moved their family to Asheville, North Carolina, continuing the pattern of moving wherever opportunity could be found.
The Bradshaw Line
Mary Lou Bradshaw was born on May 25, 1893, in Gibson, Georgia, a small town near Augusta. Her parents were Richard Bradshaw (1867–1910) and Mattie McGruder. Mary Lou grew up with five half‑siblings: Willie Mae, Hezikia, Richard, Hattie Mae, and Clouiza.
At just 17 years old, Mary Lou married George Beaufort in 1910. Tragically, George was killed shortly after their marriage due to a horse bite. No children were born from this union.
In 1911, Mary Lou and her family moved from Gibson, Georgia, to Harlem, Georgia—a move that would change the course of our family’s history.
Larry Benny Gibson & Mary Lou Bradshaw
In 1912, Larry Benny Gibson met Mary Lou Bradshaw Beaufort in Harlem, Georgia. They married on June 12, 1912, beginning a partnership rooted in love, perseverance, and family.
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They welcomed two children while living in Harlem, and in 1920, they moved to South Carolina, where seven more children were born. Their children were:
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George Gibson Sr.*
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John B. Gibson*
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Lucy Kathryn Gibson*
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Pierce Allen Gibson*
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Willis “Francis” Gibson*
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Mary Alice Gibson*
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Hazel Gibson*
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Olivia Gibson
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Bernard Gibson*
The family moved frequently within Allendale and Barnwell Counties, living and working on several farms, including Wall Place, Williams’ Place, Land Cave Place, and finally Stampson Place. These moves reflect the realities of farming life during that era—hard work, persistence, and reliance on family.
Tragically, Larry Benny Gibson passed away on April 21, 1940, at only 46 years old, leaving Mary Lou to raise nine children on her own.
The Morgan Years
Building a Legacy
In December 1940, Mary Lou married James “Jim” Morgan Sr., a devoted farmer born on April 28, 1875. James had previously been married to Maggie Chitty, with whom he had several children.
Together, James and Mary Lou raised their blended family on farmland along what is now Highway 37 in Barnwell, South Carolina. Through farming cotton, peanuts, corn, cucumbers, watermelon, and cantaloupe—and with the help of their children—they paid off the land and built a lasting legacy.
James eventually owned over 150 acres, a remarkable achievement that symbolized perseverance and unity. One of their proudest rewards was the purchase of a 1931 Model A Ford, celebrating years of hard work.
James Morgan Sr. passed away on July 17, 1951. After his death, the land was divided between the Morgan/Walker families and the Gibson family—a division that still exists today.
Later Years & a Matriarch Remembered
In 1966, Mary Lou married Norman Wright, a widower with eight adult children. He passed away in 1969.
Mary Lou lived a long and meaningful life. She was known as Granny, Grandma, or Sister Mary, and she was deeply respected for her emphasis on:
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Education
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Manners and etiquette
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Faith, dignity, and family unity
She celebrated her 100th birthday on May 25, 1994, and passed away peacefully on September 24, 1994. Her life spanned a century of change, and her influence continues through generations.
Why Family Reunions Matter
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Our family history is more than names and dates—it is a testament to strength, sacrifice, and togetherness. Family reunions allow us to:
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Honor our ancestors
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Teach younger generations where they come from
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Strengthening bonds across branches and surnames
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Celebrate survival, growth, and legacy
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Each reunion is a continuation of the journey that began generations ago. When we gather, we don’t just remember the past, we ensure that our story lives on.
Family Reunion Dedication
This family reunion is lovingly dedicated to the ancestors whose strength, sacrifice, and faith laid the foundation for us all. We honor those who worked on the land, raised families through hardship, and held fast to their values so future generations could stand stronger.
We also dedicate this gathering to our elders, whose wisdom, stories, and examples continue to guide us, and to our children, who carry our name, our history, and our hopes into the future.
May each reunion remind us that we are connected not only by blood, but by love, resilience, and shared purpose. As we come together—laughing, remembering, and reconnecting—may we continue to build unity, preserve our history, and pass our legacy forward with pride.
Because when we gather, we honor where we’ve been, celebrate where we are, and strengthen where we are going—together.