Herman Gibbs

Herman Gibbs was born on January 27, 1934, to union Veonia Torrence and Herman Gibbs both who preceded him in death, in the City of Detroit, Michigan. He was the only child. Raised in the loving care of his grandparents Katie and Emmett Shivers.

Junior as he was affectionately known, received most of his education in Troy, NY and finished in Detroit, Michigan. He was proud to have grown up in ‘Black Bottom’ because the guys in Black Bottom were known for being sharp dressers and smooth dancers. He loved music especially jazz and he played the Bongos. He also studied welding and decided early to take a different career path.

Junior learned early that he was a go-getter and business minded. Through his life’s journey he used his love for music, fashion and people to start several businesses. He gained a name for himself in the photography business with ‘Image Maker’ a professional photography service, where he developed many of his own pictures and that took him into the music venues in several states. He then expanded his ideas to have the first male dance group in Detroit and Ohio called SFWF. He never lost his love for clothes and fashion which lead him to Northland Mall where he worked for over 25 years at stores like Giannis Men’s Wear and Via Roma until he retired in 2015. He opened his resale store in 2004 called Red Carpet Select located on what was known as the Avenue of Fashion located in Livernois in Detroit, Michigan.

Junior had a love for people and family. He was the President of the Northern Chapter of the Torrence Family Reunion Committee. He had a quick wit and loved to make people laugh. He never met a stranger and was always there when you needed or asked something of him. Everywhere he went people greeted him with respect and admiration.

He was married three times and had seven children; Darran Hendricks (Kevin), Micheal, who preceded him in death (Debra), Stephen (Tianja), Braunwynn Franklin, Tina Crank, Shariff (who preceded in him death), and Ora Rines, 19 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and a host of family and friends.