Hailed as a “legend” by the Benedictine Schools of Richmond community, long-time teacher, Athletic Director, and “The Voice” of Benedictine athletics Wilbur Barry Gibrall '64, who passed away on March 23, 2026 at the age of 79, was honored with a Memorial Mass on March 30, 2026. 

The Memorial Mass, celebrated in the McMurtrie-Reynolds Pavilion where Gibrall had called over a hundred basketball games, drew hundreds of guests paying their respects, and attendance included the full Corps of Cadets and the entire Benedictine College Prep faculty and staff. Benedictine alumni from several decades were present, honoring a man who had supported them, befriended them and taught them. The Benedictine Schola offered beautiful singing throughout, the Pipe and Drum Corps contributed powerfully, and a former student of Gibrall’s delivered a tender and moving eulogy.

Gibrall’s passing received a lot of attention in the local press. The Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Zach Joachim started off his article with a quote from one of Gibrall’s favorite poems, “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. And he bookended the remembrance of Gibrall with the closing lines from Gibrall’s favorite novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” BSoR President Jesse Grapes, who often discussed poetry and literature with Gibrall, was amazed at Joachim’s choice, for it was Barry’s favorite quotation. Grapes noted he had heard Barry recite that very line frequently over the years, from a novel he had read well over 100 times.

The Richmonder’s Weldon Bradshaw, who has written about central Virginia high school athletics for over 50 years, reached out to some major figures in Benedictine’s athletic history for his appreciation of Gibrall, including Head of School Greg Lilly, legendary coach Bobby Ross, and illustrious basketball player Ed Davis, in addition to former Head of School John McGinty. Each offered fond remembrances and genuine appreciation for the special man and educator Barry was. Davis drove in from North Carolina to attend the Mass.

Gibrall’s casket was brought up the center aisle through a sabre arch formed by current BCP officers, carried by pallbearers made up mostly of teammates from the famed 1962 State Championship football team, still the only undefeated football team in Benedictine’s history. Those silver-haired gentlemen sat in the front row, in seats of honor. There were many moments which may have choked people up – one was the sprinkling of Holy Water over his casket at the beginning of the Mass. After a very personal Homily and the Communion Rite, a eulogy was offered by Kyle Zachwieja ’14. A former student of Gibrall’s popular poetry and creative writing classes, Zachwieja recounted some funny moments from class, as well as examples of Barry’s caring, encouraging, non-judgmental nature – always an advocate for his students, always patient, gentle and kind. 

A special hymm of “The Parting Glass” was sung after that, led by the Schola, and soon it was time for the casket to recess out. For this, the Pipe and Drums Corps delivered one of the most unforgettable moments of the Mass. As the pallbearers surrounded the casket and ushered it out from in front of the altar, “Amazing Grace” was played, started by a single bagpipe, then joined by other bagpipes in unison, and then bolstered by the drums’ precision drum roll work. The volume rose steadily to a thunderous crescendo, and then all dropped out but the single bagpipe who had started it off. Its lone, plaintive tones finished the musical offering with one more heart-tugging refrain, and then there was silence. By then, Gibrall’s casket had been draped with an American flag. 

In fitting fashion, the last voices heard, after the conclusion of the Mass, were the voices of the BCP Corps of Cadets, spread throughout all four corners of the bleachers, singing the BCP Fight Song in rousing, emotional, full-throated unison. For perhaps the greatest supporter of Benedictine Athletics in our history, it was a fitting send off, from the students he so loved.