Curtis Gipson

Curtis Gipson, 92, of Lubbock, Texas, passed away on July 24, 2026.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park under the direction of Griffin Mortuary.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church. A wake will immediately follow from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the church.

He was born November 19, 1933, to Fannie Young and William Gipson, Sr. He accepted the Lord as his Savior at an early age.

Curtis graduated from Dunbar High School and earned his Bachelor of Science in Education fromButler College in Tyler, Texas. He also earned the Master of Education degree from The University of Oklahoma. Additional school administration classes were taken at Texas Tech University.

Curtis was a faithful member and servant leader of the Lord at the Historical New Hope Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas for 82 years. He served as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon, and Trustee. One of his greatest joys was serving the Lord and attending church with his family.

Curtis was a devoted educator in the Slaton and Lubbock Public Schools. He served as a Social Studies/History teacher and coach at Evans High School in Slaton (1957-1962) and Dunbar High School in Lubbock (1963-1971). As the head basketball coach, he amassed a record of 300 wins and72 losses in fifteen years. He coached the Dunbar 1965 1-3A PVIL State Championship team and coached the Dunbar 1967 3A UIL State Runner-up team. He was named District Coach of the Year three times, as well as several other city and state awards. He was captain of Dunbar's first basketballchampionship team in 1953 and was the head coach of Dunbar's last championship team in 1965. He loved the young men on his teams, challenged and taught them to be men of integrity and to use their God-given talent to the best of their abilities. He also served as an administrator in roles of assistant principal and principal at Estacada High School and Alderson Junior High School (1971-1993). Again, he challenged alt his students to do their best in and out of school. He retired from education in 1993.

In retirement, Curtis served on many boards and was active in many organizations throughout Lubbock.He also served as a barber for more than fifty years and built Gipson's Barbershop on Broadway andcontinued cutting hair until his health caused him to discontinue. He loved serving his community.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Hattie Mae Gipson, his parents William Gipson and Fannie Young, his brother Willliam Gipson, and his sister Marie Oakes.

Curtis is survived by his daughter, Brenda; son, Winston (Leslie); Granddaughter, Whitney Bright (David); Grandson, Wesley Gipson, Great-granddaughters, Ava and Elise; Brother-in Laws: Mannie Williams (Gladys), Ray Williams (Shirley), Geary Williams (Connie), DeWayne Williams (Chape); Sister-in-Law, Letittia Williams; Nephews: Ronnie Gipson, Harold Gipson, Danny Oakes, Tommie Oakes, Dwight Oakes, Kerry Oakes, and Billy Oakes; Nieces: Torivia Gipson, Debra Gipson, and Janice Gipson; special cousin Bessie Fields; and a host of other family members.