For 40 years, Al Gibbons has been the person Clarendon County residents trusted with their numbers — and often much more than that.
This winter, the lifelong county resident is retiring from the accounting practice he built in downtown Manning, closing a chapter that began with a high school bookkeeping class and grew into a career defined by long-standing relationships, problem-solving and deep community involvement.
“I just needed a course, and I fell in love with it,” Gibbons said. “I decided that’s just something I wanted to do.”
Gibbons grew up on a family farm between New Zion and Turbeville. He and his wife, Marie, grew up just a few miles apart, dated in high school and married while attending what was then Francis Marion College. They moved to Manning in the early 1980s, raised three children — Phillip, Cecilia and Nelson — and later returned to Marie’s family farm, where they live today.
His career began almost by accident. While still in college, Gibbons was working at a seafood restaurant in Turbeville when a Manning CPA stopped in and asked if anyone knew an accountant looking for work.
“They said, ‘Well, somebody back in the kitchen,’” Gibbons recalled. He started part time in 1979, went full time after graduating in 1980, and left in 1984 to open his own practice.
“I was very young, and I probably had more ambition than I had sense,” he said. “I just wanted to hang my own shingle.”
He opened his office across from the courthouse, later expanding when John Usry joined him. Usry eventually became licensed, and the two formed a partnership. Usry semi-retired in 2016 and later fully retired.
Over the years, the practice evolved. Gibbons initially performed extensive auditing work for school districts, towns and libraries, but gradually shifted focus as the firm’s tax and consulting services grew.
“There’s a big misconception about what we do,” Gibbons said. “Everybody’s different, and oftentimes we’re problem solvers. People come in here with financial issues, tax issues — it’s something new every day.”
The office itself tells a story of resilience.
In 2004, a fire swept through the building, destroying much of the structure and burning off the roof. Only two walls remained standing. While the suspected cause was electrical, the aftermath proved unexpectedly fortunate.
About 90% of the firm’s client files survived the fire, Gibbons said — a fact he still calls remarkable. The disaster accelerated a transition the firm had already planned: moving away from paper storage.
The staff temporarily relocated down the street and spent months sorting records, destroying what was no longer needed and scanning what had to be preserved. When they returned to the rebuilt office, the firm had largely converted to electronic storage.
“It was really a blessing in disguise,” Gibbons said.
At the time of his retirement, Gibbons was overseeing roughly 1,200 individual tax returns, along with business clients receiving bookkeeping, payroll and general accounting services. Finding the right successor was critical, he said — not just for clients, but for the community.
“I felt like Manning needed a CPA practice in town,” he said. “I didn’t want the clients taken somewhere else.”
After years of reflection and prayer, Gibbons decided the time was right — but only if he could ensure a smooth transition. From the first meeting, he said, he felt confident in Kevin Lightheart of Lightheart Sanders, whose firm has purchased Gibbons & Co.
“I thought, ‘This might be the guy,’” Gibbons said. “Easy to talk to, similar approach, and I think the clients will really like him.”
Gibbons said his message to longtime clients is one of gratitude.
“I just thank them for a rewarding and successful career,” he said. “All I want is for them to give him an opportunity, the same way they blessed me for all these years.”
Outside the office, Gibbons’ commitment to Clarendon County has been just as consistent. He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Manning since 1985, is a three-time Paul Harris Fellow and served as president from 1994 to 1995. He has held leadership roles with the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, the Manning Jaycees and other civic organizations, and has chaired the board of the Clarendon County Disabilities and Special Needs Board.
“To be successful in business, you need to give back to the community,” he said. “Those are the folks who support you.”
As retirement begins, Gibbons said he is still adjusting.
“I can’t tell you what I’ve done the last two weeks, but I sure have been busy,” he said with a laugh.
He and Marie plan to travel more, tend to their farm and spend time with their grandchildren.
“I’m looking forward to my next chapter,” Gibbons said. “Just living for the moment.”
