Joshua Lee Gibbs passed away surrounded by the love of his family, leaving behind a legacy of faith, service, hard work, and unwavering love for those around him.

Josh was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend whose greatest joy in life was caring for others. He loved God with all his heart and lived his faith through acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion. He never met a stranger and always found something good to say about everyone. Whether someone needed a helping hand, encouragement, or simply a good laugh, Josh was always there.

Josh was a gifted athlete who played football and basketball in high school. From a young age, he worked alongside his father as a commercial fisherman, a trade he returned to throughout his life. He proudly served his country, first in the National Guard and later in the United States Army, where he served for several years.

In 2003, Josh moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, where he met the love of his life, Tracy, at Hope Christian Fellowship. They were married for 23 wonderful years and built a beautiful life together, raising their two children while living in Greensboro for 17 years. In 2020, they moved to Hyde County, where Josh embraced a new path of life and treasured becoming "PopPop" to his beloved granddaughter.

Known as a true jack-of-all-trades, there was very little Josh couldn't learn or accomplish. His strong work ethic led him through many careers, including sheet metal mechanic at TIMCO, owner of a successful landscaping business for over 15 years, EMT-certified patient transporter at Cone Health, Bonding and Warehouse Manager at TDI, Maintenance Manager at Sea Ranch Resort in Kill Devil Hills and Sea Scape Beach & Golf Villas in Kitty Hawk, and he accomplished his dream of owning LegaSea Property Maintenance, LLC.

He enjoyed traveling and cruising throughout the Caribbean and South America, collecting pottery and coffee from the places he visited. A naturally curious and creative person, Josh taught himself wood carving and enjoyed all kinds of movies. His favorite way to spend free time, however, was fishing with his son, his father, and his brother Dennis.

Cooking was one of Josh's greatest passions. Family and friends eagerly anticipated his famous barbecue, homemade barbecue sauce, apple butter, collard greens, and potato salad. He especially loved preparing meals for large gatherings, whether for church events, family celebrations, or simply because he enjoyed bringing people together around the table.

Josh was an avid sports fan who rarely missed college basketball, especially when the UNC Tar Heels were playing. He also loved football at every level, from high school to the NFL, faithfully cheering on the Carolina Panthers.

Although a man of few words, Josh possessed an enormous heart and a quick wit. He always had a funny joke or story to share. He especially loved children, and his home was often filled with not only his own children but also their friends, many of whom found comfort, encouragement, and a sense of family under his roof. Everyone felt safe when Josh was around.

Josh was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Louise Roughton (Ray); and his brothers, Paul Byrd and Dennis Byrd; and special friend Tom Cassady.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife of 23 years, Tracy Burcham Gibbs; his daughter, Kaylee Nicole Eckhardt (Sean); his son, Joshua Lee Gibbs II; his precious granddaughter, Caroline Louise Gibbs; his parents, Benjamin and Shirley Gibbs; his siblings, George Byrd (Ginger), Tonya Schurr (Thomas), Frankie Gibbs, Stanley Byrd (Shannon), and Joseph Gibbs (Mia).

He is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Brian Byrd, Brian Byrd Jr., Brandon Schurr, Gavin Schurr, Ross Gibbs (Hayley), Maddie Gibbs, Tate Gibbs, Ari Gibbs, Alex Byrd, Taylor Byrd, Kamilla Gibbs, Victoria Gibbs, Jayden Gibbs, Austin Hoover, and Aiden Bundy; great-nieces and great-nephew Hailey Cox (Chase), Ciara Byrd, and Carter Gibbs; great-great-niece Savannah Byrd; and many extended family members and dear friends, including David and Ellen Schlosser, Jane Cassady, Cathey Cassady, and Mark Cassady (Rene).

A Celebration of Josh's Life will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Hope Christian Fellowship with Military Honors, 610 Muirs Chapel Road, Greensboro, NC 27410.

A second Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Bayview Chapel, 238 Bayview Drive, Stumpy Point, NC 27978.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who visited Josh during the last two months of his life. Your time, love, prayers, and encouragement meant more to him than words can express and helped him feel deeply loved. Tracy also extends her sincere thanks to all of the family members who helped with their move and who assisted Sean and Kaylee as they settled into their new home. Especially to Kaylee and Sean for the countless hours of love, hard work, and dedication they devoted to preparing their home for the move, allowing them to be closer to family. Their kindness, generosity, and unwavering support will never be forgotten.

Tracy would like to express her heartfelt gratitude to her sister, Trisha Sayers, for her unwavering love, support, and devotion. Thank you for standing by her side through the most difficult moments of her life, offering strength, comfort, and compassion when they were needed most. Tracy wanted you to know, "I love you so much, Trisha." Your kindness and dedication meant more to her than words can express.

Josh's life was measured not by the jobs he held or the places he traveled, but by the countless lives he touched. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, humility, generosity, laughter, and unconditional love that will continue to inspire all who knew him.

"Well done, good and faithful servant."

Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301

Online condolence may be made at www.jerniganwarren.com