Getting To Know You: Mary Gibbs

Mary Gibbs in her workspace at the Hancock County Archives.

“We love it,” says Mary Gibbs, of her 35 years and counting as the Hancock County Archivist. She and her husband, George (Lee) Gibbs, have been the Archivists since 1987. She recently had a minor infection and had to spend 5 days in Owensboro Hospital. “I couldn’t wait to go back to work,” she said. “We love what we do.” She says that she is “good now.” They gave her antibiotics and after making sure the infection was gone, sent her home.

Mary was born and partly raised on a Dairy Farm in Shepherdsville, KY. Her family moved to Daviess County when she was around 6-years-old. Her parents are the late Herbert and Jessie Stillwell. Her siblings are: John Stillwell, the late Norma Stillwell, Herbie Stillwell, and the late Charles Burton Poole, who served and died in the Viet Nam War.

Mary was best friends with George’s sister, Catherine, and that is how the two met. They had a small wedding at their home on September 26, 1975. They lived in Owensboro for their first year of marriage and then moved to Lewisport, where they currently reside.

Before starting work at the Hancock Archives, they both helped on tobacco farms around the area – in Maceo, Lewisport and Daviess County. George was the Shipping Foreman for 10 years at Hodge Tobacco Company, in Owensboro. Mary worked there as well, during the winter months.

The late Clarabelle Phillips, the previous Archivist, trained the couple for their positions. They had been helping her do tasks every day and when she had a stroke and had to go into a nursing home, Judge Jack McCaslin asked them to take over. “She always said, ‘two heads are better than one,’ because George and I came in and helped her,” Mary said. Clarabelle thought of her like a daughter. And, Mary has appreciated and applied Clarabelle’s words of wisdom in her life. She always told her, “Don’t ever give up. Just keep trying, until you get it right.” Mary was there, sitting with Clarabelle, on the day she passed.

Mary and George take excellent care of all of the historic records of Hancock County, dating back as far as 1829. They are in charge of keeping the records safe, preserved and organized; as well as helping people find records they’re looking for and helping them with their research.

Members of the Fiscal Court established the Archives in 1981 – the first established county-funded archives in the State of Kentucky. Hancock County history is preserved there, such as: papers and books with recorded events, family histories, cemetery listings, and maps. There are loose case documents, such as for: marriage, deeds and many other types of court documents. Also, some of the people in the County who’ve done independent research on their family genealogy, have brought in copies to be stored in the Archives, Mary said.

The Archives were previously located on Floor 3 of the Old Court House in Hawesville. In 2013, they were moved to the first floor, where the Clerk’s office had been. “It’s easier for folks to get to now,” Mary said. If you’re interested in doing some research, she said to call ahead a day or so in advance, to make sure they will be there. The only time she or George aren’t at the Archives, would be if they had a doctor’s appointment. They are usually there on Monday-Friday, from 8:00 to 4:00. The phone number is: 270-927-8095. The email is: [email protected]. They have some information stored on the computer, as well. She said they can look up information by name or date, to assist the researcher.

Mary and George helped put together a book titled: Hancock County, Kentucky: Pictorial History, 1829-2014. They started in 2012 and finished in 2014. It was published by The Acclaimed Press, in Morley, Missouri. There was a Book Committee that was composed of many citizens in the County who assisted them – there are too many to name here. All were very helpful with the process of completing the book. There was also “a line out the door,” Mary said, of people bringing in their photos to be scanned by George and included in the book. The Historical Society and The Hancock Clarion were also both a big help in creating the book, she said.

They are blessed with one son and two daughters. Their son, George Lee Gibbs, Jr. is a Truck Driver for Prairie Farms and lives in Tell City. Their daughter, Mary Louise Compton is the Deli Manager at Bills IGA and has been working there since she was 16-years-old. She lives in Lewisport. Their daughter, Rebecca Mae Gibbs, is a Certified Electrician and is also currently in school learning to plan weddings and other events. She lives in Alabama.

They are also blessed with 3 grandchildren. Their granddaughter, Natalee Marie Williams, will graduate from HCHS next year. Their grandson, Danny Eugene (DJ) Compton, Jr., is in the Brass section of HCMS Band and loves animals. In the last two years, they’ve gotten full custody of their grandson, Westyn Levi Gibbs. They are thrilled to be raising him. He is in Grade 4 at NHES. He just recently started playing baseball and is excited to be on the Dodgers Team. He helps George on Saturdays, cleaning the old courthouse, taking out the trash and doing other chores.

Mary enjoys planting flowers in her garden. Her favorites are her rose bushes and Wedding Bells. She planted Sunflowers for her granddaughter, Natalee, who loves them. She also likes to crochet. She and her sister crocheted a throw blanket for their father, in the past. She is currently crocheting a tablecloth for her home.

She and George are doing some remodeling to their house in Lewisport. They are in the process of re-doing the tile flooring and are thankful to have some help with the project from their son and grandchildren, Mary said.

By Jennifer Wimmer