Darlene Diane Dorsey Gibbs, affectionately known as Mama Gibbs, was born to the late Martin and Pearl Dorsey on March 13, 1949, in Atlantic City, NJ. She passed away and left this earth on August 4, 2026, at the age of 77. She entered into her new heavenly home with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Jesus greeted her with open arms and said, “well done my good and faithful servant”. The bible says absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. She was the youngest of 13 siblings.

She attended Absecon/AC public schools and graduated from Atlantic City High School in 1968. Darlene was a friendly, outgoing person. She always greeted you with her big smile and hug. She also extended her hand out to anyone in need. She worked endlessly in her church in NC.

She spent many years as a resident of Pleasantville and Galloway, NJ. She worked as a secretary at Prudential Insurance Company in Northfield, NJ and worked at Harrah’s Casino, as a security guard in Atlantic City, NJ. While working for Harrah’s Casino this is where she gained the name “Mama Gibbs”. She was loved and highly respected at her jobs and offered her motherly love to everyone she came in contact with. She was a single mom to her wonderful daughter Alencya, whom she adored. Still until this day Darlene passed down her loving smile to her daughter and to many others who she came in contact with. In between her time of her jobs this is where she met her husband, Frank Gibbs. They married in 1980 in Virginia. These two were happily married for 21 yrs until Frank passed away in 2001.

In 2009, she visited NC and fell in love with the people in NC. She resided in Kernersville, NC and belonged to the Firm Foundation Outreach Ministries. At this time, this is where the love for her new church family began. She adored and built a bond with her pastor and her adopted sons and daughter. Her daughter, Alencya and many of her church members were right there during her last days, they never left her side, providing her with prayers and support. She loved the Lord with all of her heart. Her favorite saying was the “The Blood”.

We can’t forget her love for football. She loved the NY Giants. But before the love of football, she made sure she read her morning scriptures and spent her time with the Lord. She also loved riding a motorcycle until the doctor said she could not continue riding. She was known as sister, mom, aunt, and friends to many, and her house was known as the coolest house to go to.

Darlene was predeceased by her father and mother, Martin and Pearl Dorsey; and 11 of her 13 siblings, and her last remaining sister, Arerita Ringgold, passed the next day on August 5. These 2 sisters called each other out loud as if they knew that they would not be separated too long. She also leaves behind her precious daughter, Alencya who will continue her love and share her mother’s smile; one sister-in-law, Yvonne Smith. She lovingly leaves her nieces and nephew along with many other family and friends who will never forget her. Our hearts are saddened but also filled with joy because she entered into heaven without the stress and pain of this world.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at Firm Foundation Outreach Ministries, 1851 Hwy 66 S Kernersville, NC 27284. Interment will follow in Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 10:30am until 11:00am on Wednesday at the Church.