William Henry Tibbs IV, also known to others as “Tibbs, Brother, and Bill,” departed this life on December 9, 2020. Today, we will celebrate his life and loving spirit that will live in our hearts forever.
Bill was born February 25, 1935 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was the oldest son of Troy and William H. Tibbs III, grandson of Dr. John Joe and Mathenia “Emma” Chandler, and great-grandson of John Henry and Mattie Coffey.
Bill attended Tulsa schools and Booker T. Washington High School and then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Building Construction in 1958. During his time there, he became a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He then joined the United States Army Reserve where he served for six years, then received an honorable discharge in 1964. Years later, Bill enrolled in graduate school and received a Master of Science in Secondary Education from Western Connecticut State University in 1977.
Bill married Emma Marie Gaskins on July 4, 1957 and moved to Westchester County, New York in 1958. From this union, of 63 years, a son was born, William Henry Tibbs V. After arriving in New York, he became a carpenter and eventually started a construction business while building his family home. Once completed, Bill and Marie welcomed all from ne