Elsie Marie Gibson

Elsie Marie Connolly began her journey on August 11, 1920, in the LeDroit Park neighborhood of Washington, DC. The fourth child of Luther and Mamie Connolly, she joined her three older siblings, Edith, Wilfred and Marion. Later, the family would be completed when Mildred arrived. She loved her siblings and called out to them often as her journey was ending. They all preceded Elsie in death. Elsie, Mildred and Marion were members of a social charitable club, the DE-JEMMEHETS, for more than 40 years. Elsie outlived them all and was the last of the DE-JEMMEHETS. Elsie’s true love and lifelong companion was Joseph M. Gibson, Jr., who she fell in love with and married while attending Miner Teachers College. Their 70+ year marriage produced three children, Joseph, Patricia and Michael, who grew up in a strong loving family environment. A happy, friendly person, Elsie was kind, generous, and thoughtful, and would go out of her way to help others. She was intelligent, analytical, loved to learn, and read voraciously. She also loved the occasional trip to the casino to play the slot machines. Family and friends were her core, her strength, and brought her great joy. For years her home was the gathering place for holidays and special occasions. Take heed however, Elsie did not like people in her kitchen…and don’t even think about going into her refrigerator. Elsie and Joseph would enjoy 40 years of retirement which allowed them to travel extensively and watch their children grow and raise families. Three grands, Eric, Kelley and Kenny, would produce seven great grands. Tell Elsie that the kids were coming over or a big gathering was planned and “the cooking was on.” Elsie, AKA Sug, was known for her Connolly baked beans, hot rolls, sweet iced tea and Christmas cookies, to name a few. She was also known to not only spoil her husband, Joe, hopelessly, but all the kids left Sug’s with extra hugs and kisses and spending change in their pockets. Many times the victim of racism, Elsie refused to yield to its ugliness. Rather, she found ways to persevere and overcome. She taught her children to love and respect all people, to never use racism as an excuse for not succeeding, but rather to find ways around it. One of Elsie’s favorite expressions was “your greatest glory is not in rising, but in rising every time you fall.” She believed education provided opportunities to overcome racism and took great pride in watching her children, their families, and her nieces and nephews prosper. She was also a stickler for being on time, paying her debts, and maintaining excellent credit. Living 95 years is often a painful blessing. Surviving the death of her siblings, her friends and her youngest child, Michael, Elsie was able to rise above the pain and carry on. She was also at her beloved Joe’s bedside when his journey ended. We will miss so many things, including her infectious laughter, her teachings, her strength and her love. She never meddled in her children’s lives and she treated everyone as she wished to be treated. Her journey ended gently on March 25, 2016, leaving many family members with fond memories and heavy hearts. We will miss you, Elsie/Mama/Sug, but we know we will see you again. Left to continue her legacy are her son, Joseph Gibson, III (Vickie); daughter, Patricia Shannon (Kenneth); three grandchildren, Eric Gibson (Tracie); Kelley Shannon (David George); Kenneth Shannon, Jr. (Milena); and seven great grandchildren, Raven, Brendon and Sidney Gibson; Kelsie and Jami George; Emil and Jasper Shannon. She also leaves nieces, Delores Miller and Jacque-line Smith; nephews, Robert Brown Jr., Phillip Morris Jr., and Dexter Brown and their children. Two of her favorite first cousins, Dr. Albert Gaskins, Jr. and Lou Connolly Coleman, and their families survive her. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Elsie Marie Gibson please visit our Sympathy Store.