Faith and music help carry Latoya Gibbs through daily life

By Sabrina Bates

Life gets hectic for a family of six who hail from Saltillo, Miss. Between ball practices, college courses, full-time jobs and managing a household, no two days look quite the same for the Gibbs family. How do they manage the hustle and bustle? Through their faith in God and their gift of music.

Latoya Gibbs is a mom to four and about to celebrate her 43rd birthday on June 7. With Derrick, her husband of 22 years, at her side, Latoya is more than just a mother. Although when asked, she will say her most rewarding experience is being a mother.

Growing up, she and her family spent their days making music together. She was inspired by "the voice" - Whitney Houston and had dreams of her own days touring and performing in front of hundreds of people at a time. Latoya wanted to share her gift of song with others. She spent many nights auditioning in local events before she eventually made her way to New York City in the Apollo Theater.

"It was a great experience, but I was very nervous," Latoya shared. She was only 18 when she was invited to perform on the same stage where greats, such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Billie Holiday, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross and Lauryn Hill, had their starts in the music industry. Fast-forward 24 years later and Latoya is filling worship houses with her music. Derrick is Minister of Music at White Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where the Gibbs family are members. He plays the organ, piano and drums. Latoya is the song leader. Their family enjoys performing together, carrying on a tradition Latoya brought with her from her childhood.

She said her favorite type of music is gospel and she has even created a collection of her own songs that she considers contemporary Christian. When she put eventually together a collection of her written songs, all from personal life experiences, she had goals of seeing them on a CD back in 2010. Her songs were inspired from lessons she gained throughout her life.

Latoya joked that times have certainly changed and the CD platform has transitioned to digital platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. But the days of getting songs on the air through radio stations haven't changed and she is hopeful to see that come to fruition for her music.

She is working with her son, 20-year-old Braxton, to "clean up" the music in his recording studio on the campus of Delta State in Cleveland, Miss. Braxton is in his second year of college. He is using his inherited musical talents and studying to become an audio engineer. It was Braxton who helped his mom pick her own songs back up to get them ready to take to market.

During the day, one will find Latoya in her Human Resources Representative/Assistant Vice President position at the corporate office of Renesant Bank in Tupelo, Miss. After work is a different story altogether for Latoya. She could zipping from one ballpark to another or on the sidelines cheering on one of her three children who are still in high school and all play a sport.

One might find her behind a computer or her nose buried in college textbooks as she finishes up her Master's degree in clinical mental health, with an emphasis on marriage and couples counseling. She was finishing up another semester last week, inching that much closer to one of her goals.

If she isn't doing any of the above-mentioned, one may find her hosting dozens of people at a time for a cottage industry. Latoya is a sales representative for Mary Kay, AVON and Paparazzi products. She said she tells her clients that having multiple children means needing multiple incomes.

In addition to Braxton, the couple has Kamryn, 18, who is about to be a senior in high school; and a set of 15-year-old twins, Brayton and Kierston. Latoya said she knows she is approaching her empty-nest years and thinking about it makes her a bit sad. For now, their full lives are not even close to empty.

When asked what gives her the strength to keep up with such an active lifestyle, Latoya immediately spoke of her personal relationship with God to help her not feel so overwhelmed with day-to-day life.

"I take my relationship with God very seriously. I allow the words of the Bible to guide me. When I get overwhelmed, I lean on the scripture, especially Phillippians 4:13 - 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,'" Latoya said.

Now, a Google search of her name may show her leading song at church, but one day Latoya Gibbs' songs may be resonating through the air waves of local radio stations. With a degree on the way and children getting ready to decide their next phase of life, Latoya and Derrick are taking life one day at a time.