Carolyn Ruth Northcutt Gibson passed away in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on June 2, 2014 surrounded by her children, Ben, Jake, Emily, and Amos.  Carolyn was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on December 4, 1947 to William Edward Northcutt and Annie Ruth Phillips Northcutt who both predeceased her.  Maternal grandparents were Horace Greeley and Mary Lou Kerr Phillips; paternal grandparents were George Byron and Eva Thompson Northcutt, all predeceased.

Carolyn was educated in Tuscaloosa, attending Alberta Elementary, Alberta Junior High School, and graduating from Tuscaloosa High School in 1965.  She then enrolled at the University of Alabama and graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science.  While at Alabama, she was a Crimson Girl, Senator and Representative in Student Government Association,  Tuscaloosa Town Girl, Vice Preseident, inducted into the Triangle Club, Alpha Lambda Delta, Kappa Delta Pi, and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, tapped into Mortar Board, member of the Alabama Student Union Board of Directors, Secretary, and a representative to the Association of Women Students.

Carolyn then obtained her Masters in Social Work from the University in 1973.  In 1977, Carolyn enrolled in medical school at the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Medicine, graduating in 1981.  She then began a residency in Family Practice.  Unfulfilled, Carolyn enrolled at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi and began a residency in Anesthesia.  She is certified by American Board of Anesthesiology.

Carolyn then practiced Anesthesia for the next twenty years, in Tuscaloosa at Druid City Hospital, in Selma, Alabama at Vaughan Regional Medical Center, and in Shreveport, Louisiana at Doctor’s Hospital.  In 2008, she retired to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to be close to her children and grandchildren.

After a brief retirement, and with her constant interest in all things medicine, she returned to work in the field of Pain Management.  She became certified by The American Academy of Pain Management in a short few months.  She worked until December 2013, when she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, a malignant type of brain cancer.

Carolyn was an avid collector of antiques, lover of nature, compassionate giver, mother to many cats, birds and bunnies, world traveler, savvy stock investor, and the most patriotic person you ever met.  She was most proud of her father’s naval service in World War Two aboard the USS Doyle C. Barnes DE-353.  She was an avid supporter and contributor to all veteran causes.

Carolyn cared for the sick, helped those in desperate circumstances, and lived a rich, colorful, and selfless life.  Her children were so proud when people thanked them for their mother caring for their loved one.  She said her job was to tend to God’s flock and keep them well.  She constantly gave her time, money, experience, and empathy to charities and individual  causes.  She was an accomplished student, formally and self-taught.  The depth and breadth of Carolyn Gibson as an individual is impressive.  Her children are still learning about their mother’s life and know the end is nowhere near in sight.

Carolyn stated her job was to make sure she sent her children into the world educated, and she did just that, with Ben and Emily graduating from Louisiana State University and practicing law; Jake graduating from Ft. Lewis University and in the construction management field; and Amos graduating from the University of Mississippi and is in the commercial insurance field.  But, as her children say, the education from Carolyn was in the life lessons she taught them and by watching and learning from her actions.

Carolyn is survived by her sisters, Betty Northcutt Patterson and Winton of Tuscaloosa, Marilyn Northcutt Henry and Earl of Nashville, TN, and Patricia Northcutt Stephens and Lackey of Tuscaloosa.

Lastly, Carolyn left behind her four children, Benjamin Northcutt Gibson and wife, Linda, and their two children, Benjamin Northcutt Gibson, Jr. and Abigail Wight Gibson of Baton Rouge, LA.; Jacob Brehaut Gibson of Baton Rouge, LA.; Emily Claire Gibson of Baton Rouge, LA.; and Amos Armantier Gibson of Shreveport, LA.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, Carolyn’s children ask that any donations or gifts be made to the Wounded Warriors Project or to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine.  She would like that.

Visitation will be from 5:30-7:30 Thursday, June 5, 2014 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home on Government Street, Baton Rouge,La.Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, June 6, 2014, at St. James Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, La. and Sunday, June 8, 2014, at Circlewood Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Ala. with burial following in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park.