Lynn Gibson Mize

ABBEVILLE…Mrs. Lynn Gibson Mize, a resident of Abbeville (formerly of Ozark), died late Sunday evening, December 21, 2025, at the home of her son in Abbeville. She was 76.

In keeping with the wishes of the family, there are no local services planned. Interment will be Tom’s Creek Community, Wise County, Virginia. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of local arrangements.

Mrs. Mize, the beloved daughter of the late Cecil Freemont Gibson, Jr. (Master Sergeant, United States Army, Retired) and Mary Ann Hall Gibson, was born and raised in the mountains of Wise County, Virginia—a quiet beauty and close‑knit community. A proud 1967 graduate of Coeburn High School, she remained deeply connected to her Virginia roots even as life carried her far from home.

As the daughter and later the wife of dedicated military servicemen, Mrs. Mize lived in many places across the United States and abroad. Each new home brought new experiences, new friendships, and new opportunities.

In 1989, she and her husband settled in Ozark following his retirement from the United States Navy. She was employed with M.O. Carroll Grocery Company in Ozark as an office manager. She delighted in gardening and watching hummingbirds flutter outside her window, finding peace in their delicate beauty. She loved cooking for those she cared about, filling her home with the familiar aromas and traditions that brought people together. Her interest in genealogy became more than a hobby—it was a way of honoring the generations who came before her and preserving their stories for those who would follow.

Mrs. Mize was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Rickie Lee Mize (Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy, Retired), whose partnership and companionship were the foundation of her adult life, and by her brother, Cecil Freemont “Monty” Gibson, III.

Surviving relatives include her daughter, Heather Jordan (Fred), Ozark; son, Derrick Mize (Katie), Abbeville; sister, Cherie Contreras (Manuel), Madison, Alabama; brother, Jimmy Gibson, Pinckard; four grandchildren, Hagan Jordan (HM3, United States Navy) (Yasmine), Gracie Lynn Jordan (Brandon), Cohen McLain Mize, and Freya Adelaide Mize; nieces, nephews, and cousins.