Obituary of Margaret J. Gibson

Margaret J. Mayo Gibson (Peggy, Margie), 93 of Garnet Valley, PA, died peacefully on September 3, 2024. She was born on March 26, 1931, in South Philadelphia. Margie was a graduate of Philadelphia High School for Girls, Temple University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, Trenton State College (now The College of NJ) with a M.S. in Guidance/Counseling and Rutgers University with an Ed.D.

She devoted her life to teaching and caring for others, inside and outside the classroom. Supporting others and helping them to discover their gifts and achieve happiness was Margie's purpose. As an educator, teacher, counselor, advocate, friend, and relative, Margie would happily chat with you to make sure you were doing what made you happy and, most importantly, make sure you had something to eat or drink. Margie's career expanded decades in the field of education. She taught in the classroom, served as a child development specialist (pre-cursor to an elementary school counselor), a counselor for middle school students, and taught in and directed the gifted program in the North Brunswick, NJ school system. As Dr. Gibson, she taught, supervised, and mentored pre-service teachers at West Chester University. She loved working with all her students. Although she formally retired from teaching, she never stopped facilitating growth in others.

Margie was a consultant at Harcourt, Brace & Javonovich Publishing, remained involved in numerous service organizations, and taught parenting classes, including at church and in prisons. She spent many hours volunteering her time and expertise in the community and at Maris Grove, Tom and Margie's last home community. Always involved in service, Margie spent a good deal of time devoted to the church in leadership roles, and when her children were younger she was a scout leader. It was very important to her to help others learn how to use their gifts and recognize what she called "everyday miracles," to tell their stories and celebrate life. To that end, she became an accomplished author, publishing five collections of life stories. She then facilitated workshops to show others how to do the same.

While being an educator was her passion, by far her greatest love was her family and dear friends. She loved deeply and was not shy about expressing it. She made sure birthdays and special occasions were celebrated and you knew that she was so proud and happy for you. Tom and Margie's 71-year marriage was a partnership filled with love and a great deal of traveling, with journeys across the globe. Among her journeys was a pilgrimage to the home of her ancestors in the small village of Monteguto, Italy. Not only did she manage to reconnect with some distant relatives there, but she taught herself to speak Italian despite being in her 70s. In the final few years of her life, dementia robbed her of memory, but not of spirit. She maintained her love of music and dancing, talking to others and making sure you were happy.

Margie is predeceased by her parents, Carl and Margaret (Borrelli) Mayo and her sister, Carol. Margie is survived by her loving husband of 71 years, Tom, and children, Jeffrey and daughter-in-law Donna, and Karen and son-in-law John (Dickinson). She was the very proud grandmother of Jenny Dickinson Lane (Jeff), Greg Gibson, Johnny Dickinson and Brad Gibson (Sophie) and received much joy as the great-grandmother of Chase, Brady and Taylor Lane and Rosie Gibson. She is also survived by her beloved brother, Bob Mayo and sister-in-law Joan, and treasured nieces and nephews, Bob, Laurie, Carl and Rick. A visitation will take place on Thursday, September 12 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM at Reformation Church, 102 W. Rose Tree Rd, Media, PA followed by a funeral service at 2:00 PM. Interment will remain private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Reformation Lutheran Church: relcmedia.org/giving or to 102 W Rose Tree Rd, Media, PA 19063.

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