April Tibbs was born in Parkersburg, WV on July 4, 1974. She was a teacher at Parkersburg High School for two years and then transferred to Parkersburg South High School and taught there for twelve years. She taught Journalism, Yearbook, Newspaper, English, and taught night school. She loved teaching and she loved her students.

Tibbs graduated from Parkersburg South, where she was a National Merit Finalist. She attended The Ohio State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in English. She then attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where she received a master’s degree to teach. While there, she received an award for the most outstanding student teacher in her class.

Besides teaching school, Tibbs was a huge Ohio State Buckeye fan and an avid scrapbooker and crafter. For many years, April and her good friend, Faith, purchased tickets to Broadway plays in Columbus, Ohio. She always looked forward to going to these plays.

In 2017, Tibbs took fostering classes and became a foster mother to one of her students who needed a home. But, a year later, in December 2018, Tibbs was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer at the age of 44. Through all her chemo treatments and many surgeries, she fought like the firecracker she was and never gave up hope of conquering this horrible disease. But, sadly, she passed away in December 2020.

The April Lee Tibbs Memorial Scholarship was established by her family to honor her love of teaching. It will give a Parkersburg South High School student, majoring in Multimedia, Journalism, Communications, and/or English, the opportunity of obtaining a scholarship in her name each year. The fund will make its first award spring of 2022.

Individuals who would like to make a tax-deductible donation in memory of April Tibbs are encouraged to send a check made payable to the PACF with “April Lee Tibbs Memorial” on the memo line to: PACF, PO Box 1762, Parkersburg, WV 26102. Donations may also be made online. Individuals wishing to learn more about this fund can call the Foundation at 304.428.4438.