Lebanon businesses mark milestones: Gibbs Pharmacy turns 35; Partlow Funeral Home sees 45

Two Lebanon business landmarks with a combined 80 years of operation will soon celebrate milestones for two different reasons.

Gibbs Pharmacy will mark its 35th anniversary this year. It's a locally-owned business that now fills about 250,000 prescriptions per year in a business landscape dominated by drugstore chains. A community celebration is scheduled from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday at the store, 1427 W. Baddour Parkway.

Meanwhile, Partlow Funeral Chapel, now in its 45th year, is celebrating a recent return to its campus after the chapel was destroyed by the 2020 tornado with a grand-re-opening from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday. Everyone is invited to the remodeled location at 602 S. Cumberland Street.

Here's some more information about the two businesses:

Gibbs Pharmacy marks a milestone

Jim Gibbs opened Gibbs Pharmacy on July 23, 1989 with just two workers. Now the pharmacy has 42 employees with a business model that looks to provide extra customer-friendly touches one might expect from a locally-owned business while staying ahead on technology and evolving business practices.

”We have people who have been coming here 35 years and to see them with a problem and to get that problem fixed is one of the most rewarding things,” said Gibbs, 68.

Gibbs Pharmacy uses robotics to fill medications. It also operates a compounding lab that was recently expanded to custom-make medications through doctor prescriptions that might not be available through commercial avenues. Compounding can include dye-free, preservative-free, alcohol-free and/or sugar-free medications, Gibbs said.

A Personal Fill Program allows customers to line up pickups for all medications on the same day each month. Gibbs Pharmacy also works with a number of assisted living facilities in the area, and services include a pharmacist who can make house visits to give certain injections and oral medications to patients who may have mobility challenges.

Gibbs Pharmacy visits Lebanon Special School District schools and Friendship Christian School offer employees onsite flu shots.

“Health coaches,” that can help navigate constant insurance changes and an immunization program are also provided, Gibbs Pharmacy technician and co-owner Christi Orman said.

Gibbs first opened the pharmacy by leasing space on hospital property that, at the time, was operated by University Medical Center. The hospital is now under the management of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Byron Pirtle originally came to work at Gibbs Pharmacy as a pharmacist but eventually became a partner with Gibbs. They had the pharmacy's current building built in 2006, about 300 yards away from its original site. Pirtle, who retired several years ago, still co-owns the building.

Several employees have been at the store for a number of years, including pharmacist Kim Maxey Bird, who's served for about 25 years and Orman, who's served for 21 years, starting at age 17.

The customer appreciation day on Saturday is scheduled before the pharmacy's actual anniversary in a bid to stay clear of hot weather, employees said. Planned activities include face painting, inflatables and food.

Partlow Funeral Chapel back home after tornado

Partlow Funeral Chapel, opened by Jackie Partlow in 1979, has remained open throughout the four-plus years since the tornado.

However, it has mainly used The Partee House, a historic home on West Main Street, to meet with families. Funerals have been held at several locations, including The Partee House.

Updated furniture, a sound booth, an area for singers and musicians and a cremation showroom are among the upgrades at Partlow Funeral Chapel, which has now been officially reopened for several weeks,

"It's very similar architecture to what we had," Jnae Partlow Spears, Jackie Partlow's daughter, said of the remodel. "We've had a few services and memorials, and it's been pretty amazing."

Partlow Spears and her son Hunter Reynolds along with her brother Jason Partlow, his wife Kathy Partlow and their sons Jack and Grant Partlow are all involved in the operation and management of Partlow Funeral Home.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Lebanon's Gibbs Pharmacy, Partlow Funeral Home are planning events