Arletria "Letria" Denise Gibbs Bowden, 40

SEAFORD - Arletria "Letria" Denise Gibbs Bowden of Seaford passed from this life to her heavenly home on Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at her residence, after a brief illness. She was 40.

"Leet," or "Letria," as she was affectionately called was the beautiful daughter of Gracelyn Gibbs and the late Fred Lee Fonville.

She was a graduate of Sussex Central High School, class of 1985.

Prior to her illness she worked in private nursing homes in Delaware and Maryland as a licensed nursing assistant.

Arletria was a member of St. John"s 2nd Baptist Church, Millsboro.

She liked watching and going to the movies, she enjoyed being around people, amusement parks, and rides at amusement parks, and she truly excelled in shopping.

Above all else, she loved being a newlywed as she and her husband were united in holy matrimony for one and a half years prior to her home-going.

Arletria was an individual who strived to spread love and compassion throughout her family. Family togetherness was her motto.

She was preceded in death by her favorite cousin, who was her "bosom buddy," Jarmell Weston.

She is survived by her husband, Barry Lee, whom she and she alone referred to as "Boot," of Seaford; two sons, Trevor Gibbs of Millsboro and Allan P. White Jr. of Seaford; her mother, Gracelyn Gibbs of Seaford; three stepchildren, Danae Person, Marissa Person of Wilmington, and Jasmine Rokos of Rehoboth Beach; two sisters, Natalie "Laverne" Meeks and her husband, Frank of Seaford and Navonda Farrow, and her husband, Pornell of Millsboro; five brothers, Timothy Midgett and his wife, Janelle of Durham, N.C., Oliver Gibbs and his wife, Geraldine of Millsboro, Freddie Fonville and his wife, Deanna of Millsboro, Andre Fonville of Lewes, and Melvin White of Millsboro; her maternal grandfather, Keith Benson of Engelhard, N.C.; her father-in-law, William Bowden; her mother-in-law, Valerie Bowden of Millsboro; 10 uncles, Henry Weston, Walter Weston, Carlton Weston and his wife, Rhoda, Dennis Benson, Keith Benson Jr., Gary Benson, Prentis Benson, Kim Benson, Everett Tull, and William Earl Gibbs and his wife, Rose of Kileen, Texas; seven aunts, Nancy Weston and her husband, Everett, Iris Weston, Sondra Weston, Northern Gibbs, Elaine Graves of Hampton, Va., Merlene Jones of Greenville, N.C., and Betty Gibbs of Hampton, Va.; her best friend, Wanda Peterson and her husband, Jimmy of Millsboro; a special friend, Jack "Pop" Jarman of Delmar, Md.; a host of other family and friends; and it was Arletria"s desire to list two other survivors, they are her dolls who were her comfort and confidants, her Baby Alive, Barrianna, and her Mickey Mouse doll.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in St. Johns 2nd Baptist, Mt. Joy, where Pastor Annie Custis will deliver the eulogy.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Burial will be in the Mt. Joy Cemetery, following the services.

Arrangements by Deborah E. Harris-Nock Funeral Services, Greenwood.