The recovery house where she was murdered by her son now bears her name

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — She was murdered by her own son, but her legacy lives on.

The recovery house in Philadelphia where Christine Gibson worked now bears her name. Her son, Keith Gibson, was convicted of her murder and three others last week.

Family-oriented with a heart of gold — that’s how David Thorton remembers his sister, Christine Gibson.

Years ago, the siblings struggled with addiction but went through recovery together.

“She was out on the streets and she told me she wanted to get her life back together,” he recalled. “That’s how we bonded real close, and actually, she came off the streets and went and got her master’s degree.”

Christine Gibson received her master’s in sociology and went on to become the director of a peer recovery house in East Falls, where she helped others facing similar issues.

It’s the same recovery house where, in February 2021, she was killed by her son, Keith Gibson.

The Resources for Human Development (RHD) house was renamed in her honor: the Christine Gibson Peer Support House.

“It was named after her because of who she was, because of the fact that she was a respected behavioral health leader,” said RHD CEO Brian Rhodes.

He said the peer-driven house “allows the connection to exist between individuals who may experience or who have experienced the same circumstances of individuals who stay in the house.”

“We pride ourselves on helping those that are considered the least, the lost and the less fortunate who have been underserved in the community for quite some time,” he added.

Thornton said he is so proud of what his sister accomplished, and he misses her every day.

“She loved her recovery community and her family, and that was her life,” he said. “She was determined. One thing I say about my sister, when she said something, it got done. That’s how strong-minded she was.”