Remembering Tanya Lynn Gibson

Jul 17, 1999 - Sep 4, 1999

Our infant sister, Tanya Lynn Gibson tragically and suddenly passed away on September 4, 1999. I was six years old, our other sister was one, and Tanya was one month and eighteen days old when she lost her life. Although she was here for a short period of time, she has made the biggest impact on our lives. She was such a precious and perfect baby and sister. As her sisters, we love her dearly, we miss her more than words can say, and she was fiercely protected by her sisters. As a six year old little girl, I held the responsibility to care for her in her short amount of time with us. She tragically passed one night when I was not there to care for her because I was away for the night with a Grandparent. Words cannot describe the pain and immense grief we still feel to this day. The memories and this photo of her is all we have left of her. My sister and I were placed into foster care shortly after her passing and remained in the foster system for five years when we were eventually adopted in 2004. A little over five years from her passing to be exact. Until recently, my sister and I did not have any information regarding where she is buried, or any of the details surrounding this painful situation. After we went to visit her grave a few days ago, we had the opportunity to meet with the Director at the Funeral Home that handled her arrangements and was provided with every documentation they could provide from her file of her death. She is buried at Highland Memorial Garden Cemetery in Bessemer, Alabama. She does not have a headstone or marker. Upon our visit, we discovered there was no marker, no name or information and her grave site was dirt, dead grass and had trash on top of her that my sister and I had to pick up as much as we could. This was devastating to see. Due to the circumstances of her death and what came after, we are seeking any resources available to make arrangements to have her transported to another cemetery or cremation if possible to be closer to us, and to give her the proper service and resting place that she so desperately deserves. Thank you on behalf of her older sisters.