Catherine Gibbs Hamm

Published 10:49 am Thursday, March 6, 2025

Catherine Gibbs Hamm, 77 of North Chesterfield, went to be with her heavenly father on the evening of March 1. She was the third daughter of Clarence “Jake” Lester Gibbs and Sena Beck Gibbs of Burkeville. At her time of passing, she was living in the Woodland in Farmville in the Memory Care Unit. 

Catherine was preceded in death by her beloved parents; Virginia Gibbs Cochran, who was Catherine’s oldest sister; and Percy Gilbert Cochran and George Lee Irvin III, who were her brothers-in-law and surrogate big brothers. 

She is survived by her son, David Gibbs Hamm (Stephanie); sisters, Mary Frances Gibbs Irvin and Linda Gay Gibbs Staylor; special brother-in-law, Charles Lowry Staylor; nephew and niece, George Lee Irvin IV (Caroline) and Mary Catherine Block (Christopher); great-nephew and nieces, Sander, Julia, Sena and Annabelle, and her loyal friend, Frederick Dunning as well as other loving extended family. 

Catherine will be remembered as a devoted and loving mother, sister, aunt and friend to many. Catherine was a graduate of Prince Edward Academy and Ferrum College. Her lifelong passion for helping others led her a career with non-profit organizations, including 15 years serving as Executive Director of the American Lung Association and four years as the Executive Director for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In her free time, Catherine enjoyed gardening and watching her magnificent flowers flourish, followed by creating whimsical floral arrangements from those gardens. 

At a young age, Catherine accepted the Lord as her savior and was avidly involved in the Bagby Memorial Baptist Church and Bon Air Baptist Church congregations. 

Above all, Catherine cherished her role as mother to David and never missed an opportunity to teach or support his ever growing aspirations; more than a mother-son relationship though, they were true buddies. Catherine will be remembered by family and friends for her inner and outer beauty, wit, and ability to dazzle anyone with whom she came in contact. 

A Celebration of Life will be held for Catherine on Saturday, March 15, at 2 p.m., at Bagby Memorial Baptist Church, 4827 Sandy River Road, Burkeville, VA 23922. If you wish to honor Catherine donations may be made Bagby Memorial Baptist Church ℅ of Jean Fowlkes, 1215 Grapelawn Road, Burkeville, VA 23922 or the RVA Community Needs Fund at Bon Air Baptist Church, 2531 Buford Road, Richmond, VA 23235. The family would like to thank Catherine’s sitters, Becky and Meghan, and all the staff at the Woodland especially, Barbara, Tameka, Carisa, Carolyn, Meghan, Wendy, Jenny, Rosa and Shirley. 

Puckett Funeral Home is serving the family. www.puckettfh.com.