Juanita Gibson

Juanita Gibson was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend. She was born to Isaiah Newman and Delia Bell Newman (nee Rainwater) on Dec. 4, 1928 in Flomot, Texas. She left this world suddenly on Dec. 22, 2020 at St. Mary’s hospital in Madison, WI after a brief illness.

Her early years were spent In Lubbock, Texas surrounded by a large extended family. She married Kenneth Goldsby in December 1951. The family moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 1955 due to her husband’s re-assignment to Truax Army Air Base.

While living in Madison she worked for several years as a house maid at St. Mary’s hospital which was established and operated by the Sisters of Mary. For many years she was a waitress at the Rennebohm’s located on the corner of Randall and University Avenue. After retiring from Rennebohm’s and having raised eight children, she decided to come out of retirement and spend her next chapter pouring love into young children by being a caregiver. It gave her so much joy to watch teach and nurture babies and children.

She was an active member of St. Paul AME church. A founding member of S.S. Morris A.M.E. Church, where she served on many boards and enjoyed her role as the Sunday School Superintendent. Since 2005, she has been a member of Madison East Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Juanita is survived by six children, David Goldsby, Kenneth (Shirley Files) Goldsby, Marchel (Edwin) Hill, Michael Goldsby, Jeffrey (Lisa) Goldsby all of Madison, Mark (Lisa) Goldsby of Marshall, WI. Daughters-in-law Keri Behm and Janice Russell of Madison. Sister Edna (Richard) Holmes of Arkansas, two sisters-in-law Freda Newman of Georgia and Bernadine Newman of Texas, uncle W.E. Rainwater of Killeen, Texas; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grand- children. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her two sons, James and Clarence Goldsby of Madison, granddaughter Tabitha Goldsby of Marshall, daughter-in-law Annette Rogers of Madison, husbands Robert Gibson of Texas, William S. Todd, Arthur Braxton of Madison, Kenneth Goldsby of Kansas and Oliver Harvey of Texas, her parents Isaiah and Delia Newman of Texas, two brothers James Newman of Georgia and John Newman of Texas, four sisters Ethel Childers, Barbara Loggins, Estella Whidby and Della Showers all of Texas.

Because of COVID safety restrictions, a private service will be held at Cress Funeral home. The family plans to have a larger memorial service this summer to celebrate Juanita’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome your contributions to the Red Cross or your favorite charity.