Missing Macon Water Authority worker described as ‘beloved and dependable’ found dead

A Macon Water Authority employee’s body was found in the Ocmulgee River a day after he was reported missing.

Bernard Gibson was one of the authority’s “most beloved and dependable” customer service representatives, MWA said in a Facebook post hours before Macon-Bibb County Fire Department divers pulled his body from the river about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The 61-year-old was last seen alive Monday morning and was reported missing by his wife, Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones said.

The search for Gibson started at the Spring Street entrance to the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail after his black Chevy S-10 pickup truck was spotted there about noon Tuesday.

“We don’t know how long he’s been in the water,” Jones said. While there were no obvious signs of foul play, “we can’t rule anything out right now. It’s in the early stages of the investigation and I don’t want to say anything to compromise the integrity of the investigation.”

Gibson was wearing casual clothes when his body was pulled from the water near the Spring Street boat ramp. He had worked for MWA for 23 years, the authority said in a Facebook post.

An autopsy is set for Wednesday at the GBI crime lab.

This story was originally published September 10, 2019 at 1:20 PM.