Swanee, GA

Mrs. Daisy Gibson-Ragin, exchanged her physical time with us for her eternal home with God on Monday afternoon, June 12, 2023, in Suwanee, Georgia.

Daisy Gibson, or Mrs. Daisy, as she was affectionately referred to, was born in Manning, South Carolina on September 11, 1931 to the late Levy & Katie Gibson. She was the youngest child, and was the only remaining member of her immediate family.

Mrs. Daisy received her early formal education in the Clarendon County school system and her adult education through the school of life.

She was joined in marriage, to the late Deacon Rufus Ragin, Sr for forty-nine years. To this union three children were born: Rufus Ragin, Jr, Deborah Ragin (Harvin), and Cladean Ragin (Smiley).

She gave her life to Christ at a very early age, and joined the Mount Zero Missionary Baptist Church, Manning, South Carolina. There she served diligently with the Sunday School, Usher Board, and Gospel Choir. In or about 1963, the family joined the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church of Manning, South Carolina where she served on the missionary board, senior choir, mentor for the youth ministry, and was a deaconess. In 2014, she became a watch care/affiliate member of Suwanee Worship Center UMC, Suwanee, Georgia where she actively participated in worship services, church activities, Sunday school, Thursday women’s bible study, and she still remained an active member of her home church, the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, Manning, South Carolina. Her true love was always serving God.

In 2009, due to health reasons, Mrs. Daisy moved to Suwanee, Georgia to reside with her daughter and son-in-law, Deborah R. and Raymond Harvin.

Sewing was her passion. She had the ability to design and make beautiful creations. She was a seamstress by trade, and retired after working in this industry for over thirty-five years. In retirement, at the age of 70, she became a Foster Grandparent at the Clarendon County Early Childhood Center, Manning, South Carolina (preschoolers), for seven years.

She enjoyed singing, playing the piano, and crocheting.She shared many of her uniquely designed items with others. Writing biblically based poems was also dear to her heart. The poems she shared included words of encouragement to those she felt needed an encouraging word from God.

She was preceded in heavenly transition by her parents: Levy & Katie Gibson; and all of her siblings: Edwin Gibson (Gladys Billups-Gibson); Mary Gibson-Davis (Gabe); Rev. Herman Gibson (Mary Ann Tindal-Gibson); Henry Gibson (Lillie); Kannie Gibson-Washington (Thompson); Dorothy Gibson (infant); Bessie Gibson-Brunson (Sammie); Levy Gibson, Jr (Oscreem); Jerome Gibson (Sophie); and Jerry Gibson (infant). Also, preceding her, in heavenly transition, was her husband, Deacon Rufus Ragin, Sr, youngest daughter, Cladean Ragin-Smiley, and daughter-in-law, Chang Mal Sun Ragin (Rufus Jr).

Mrs. Daisy leaves behind, to cherish many fond memories: son, Rufus Ragin, Jr,. Buford, GA; daughter, Deborah Ragin-Harvin (Raymond), Suwanee, GA; her dear grandchildren: Ariane Smiley, Buckeye, AZ, Jennifer Ragin, Atlanta, GA, Amber Smiley, Norcross, GA, Sheldon Marcus Harvin (Jessica), Dacula, GA and Marcie Harvin-McClenton (Emarri), Atlanta, GA; her loving great grandchildren: Amir Smiley-Delgado, Paris Smiley-Deutou, Sanai McClenton, Soo-Young Mal Reese, Zuri McClenton, Kiaus Smiley-Willis, and Kyrene Smiley-Willis along with a host of other nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grandnephews and a host of other relatives. She also leaves behind many friends and acquaintances she met along her life’s journey.

Mrs. Daisy had a great love for God and His word. All one had to do was chat with her. One could feel the spirit of God flowing through her when she spoke; and she shared her wisdom with many people far and near. She will be greatly missed, and the angels in heaven are singing praises to God for one more, in the number, that has made their way home, to abide with Jesus Christ. As Mrs. Daisy would say, “Amen to that!”.

Public viewing will be held 5:00 PM til 6:00 PM, Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at Hayes F. Samuels Sr., Memorial Chapel, 114 N. Church St., Manning, SC.

Mrs. Ragin will lie in state from 10:00 AM until 10:55 AM on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.

Funeral Services will take place 11:00 AM, Thursday, June 22, 2023 at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Manning, SC. Burial will follow in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, Sumter, SC.

Local Floral shop: Gibson’s Floral Cart in Manning, SC.