Helen Marie Gibbons

Helen Marie (Williams) Reeves, Gibbons was born on Thursday, June 27th, 1940, in Chicago, IL, in the Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium. Her parents were Eric Marion Williams (Deceased) and Hattie Sue Johnson (Deceased). Hattie Sues’, death led to her placement along with her siblings in foster care (George and Fannie Weir).

She is preceded in death by her siblings Esther Louise Wright, Eric Marion Williams, Jr. Ronald Lee Williams.

She attended the Loretto Academy for girls’ high school and Roosevelt University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree at age 51.

She married Robert Wesley Reeves Sr. and had two children, Robert W. Reeves Jr. and Elena Maria Reeves-Jordon.

She married James Lawrence Gibbons in 1975 and resided in Rockford, IL for the past 24 years. Both Helen and Jim were active member/volunteers of the Court Street Methodist Church

Helen was a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Pi Gamma Omega Chapter.

She served in various roles as a volunteer, the keynote of which was her service on the Oak Park, IL Police and Fire Commission as the first female and person of color.

She was a retired banking executive and in her post retirement years she served as a social worker serving foster children, which she understood firsthand.

She is survived by her husband James; her children Robert (Kim) and Elena (Wil – deceased), her grandchildren Natalie (Zachary) Breece, Eric (Willow) Reeves and Alexis Schoen and her great-grandchildren Carter & Charleigh Breece and Nolan and Riley Shoen. She would also not hesitate to remind you that she also had children; Jon Gibbons, Jeffrey (Cindy) Gibbons, Janice (David) Bonner, Jennifer (Steve) Valdez and Judith Gibbons, grandchildren and great grandchildren on the Gibbons side which were all equally meaningful; her sister Margaret Eileen Williams and foster brother Harold Hutton Sr., aka Bobby Hutton; numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Helen spent most her life dealing with chronic pain with a smile. When asked how she was doing, she would respond “Good Enough…Praise the Lord!”

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of funeral service, 11:30 a.m. at Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N Court St, Rockford, IL 61103.

Helen was a breast cancer survivor. In lieu of flowers, she has requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society and Arthritis Foundation.

To send online condolences or share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com. To view the funeral service electronically, return to this webpage at a later time to receive the link.