J.D. Gibbs' Obituary
J.D. Gibbs, 49 of Davidson went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 11, 2019.
Survivors include his wife Melissa Miller Gibbs; sons, Jackson, Miller, Jason and Taylor; parents, Joe and Pat Gibbs; and brother, Coy Gibbs.
So many things in life make no sense, yet there is no Biblical mandate or cosmic law to indicate that they should. Bad things happen and still God is good and loves us and has a good plan for our lives. Somehow those things fit together. We are not entitled to an explanation nor do we always come to a place of peace with our trials and tribulations. But make no mistake, they are purposeful and do work together for our good. That is a promise we can cling to.
J.D. lived a life that by human standards, should have yielded long years of good health and great happiness. His life was characterized by integrity and virtue, physical discipline, spiritual commitment, healthy habits, a positive outlook, commendable priorities, vibrant relationships, community involvement and laughter. You might know him as the high school quarterback who made even his least popular classmates feel like A-listers. You may know him as the college fraternity brother you could call when you needed a sober driver at 2:00am. You may know him as the president of a successful race team, who built relationships with everyone from NASCAR officials to team owners, earning the respect of all. You may know him as a ministry partner who understood what really matters. You may know him as a youth football coach or Young Life leader or just a really fun Dad. Why should a good man suffer such hardship in the prime of life? Why would an unknown, uncaused, untreatable, undignified degenerative disease strike someone like him? He had four boys to raise, future grandchildren to love, years to grow old in marriage, a company to run, ministry to do, bucket-list items to check. And yet, this is the way his story ends. Except that it really doesn’t.
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit”, John 12:24.
There is more to the story than meets the eye. Not only does J.D. live on in eternity, he leaves a legacy on earth that ensures he lives on right here as well. If you knew him, odds are he nudged you a bit closer to Jesus and nothing would delight him more than having an eternal legacy of people who found faith because of his example or influence. He lives on in the ministries he chose to support and the way he used his resources. He lives on in the culture he created at Joe Gibbs Racing. Most importantly, he lives on in the lives of his sons; four young men forever shaped by the godly father who invested so much into them.
J.D.’s story is not a list of accomplishments and it’s not a timeline of events ending in disease. Neither is it a tragic tale of a life interrupted. It’s a snapshot of a man who lived the exact number of days appointed to him, fulfilling every purpose God intended. Were it not so, he would still be with us. J.D. now has his reward and we can best celebrate his life by being a part of his legacy.
The Gibbs family requests support for an important campaign that has been established in honor of J.D. and his passion for the Young Life Ministry, for which he served as a member of the National Board. Please read J.D.'s Young Life story and consider giving to the J.D. Gibbs Legacy Fund. Click Here
A service to celebrate his life will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, January 25, 2019 at the Davidson College Belk Arena. (Doors will open at 10:30 AM).
The family would like to thank Hospice of Lake Norman for their love and care in J.D.’s final days.
James Funeral Home of Huntersville, NC is serving the family. Florists, please contact James Funeral Home about floral instructions. http://www.jamesfuneralhomeLKN.com
A register book is located at James Funeral Home (10520 Arahova Drive, Huntersville) for anyone who would like to sign if you are unable to attend the service. It will be available daily (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) until next Friday.
The Memorial service can be viewed live online beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Friday the 25th at http://www.nascar.com/JDGibbs .
What’s your fondest memory of J.D.?
What’s a lesson you learned from J.D.?
Share a story where J.D.'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with J.D. you’ll never forget.
How did J.D. make you smile?