James Milton Culbreth

Mr. James Milton Culbreth, 91, of Clemmons passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at his home. He was born July 2, 1920 in Albany, GA to William and Rosa Watson Culbreth. Jimmy, as he was known by those closest to him, loved athletics and was an outstanding football player in high school, earning offers to play at UNC and Georgia. Instead, with World War II looming, he joined the US Navy in 1940. He was first stationed in Norfolk, VA where he met Rosemary Gordon, of Clemmons, who would become his wife in 1944 and the love of his life for 67 years. During the war, he served in the Philippines and was scheduled for the first invasion forces into Japan when the war ended; he remained in Occupied Japan at the Japanese Naval Headquarters until 1946. The following year after returning to his new home in Clemmons, he began working for McLean Trucking Company where he remained for 35 years until his retirement in 1982. For nearly 40 years, he was song leader and Sunday school teacher at Center Grove Baptist Church, teaming with wife Rosemary who played the piano and organ during that same time. In 1948, Jimmy and Rosemary had their only child, Michael; Jimmy was a loving, supportive, and devoted father and grandfather, always his son's dear friend. But not a day went by since Rosemary's death last August that he didn't miss her and long to be with her again. On their 65th Anniversary in 2009, Michael wrote to his parents: ""You have seen 23,725 sunrises and sunsets as husband and wife. Some of those days were better and more special than others, but what you have shown me is that marriage doesn't depend on one good day or get destroyed by one bad day. It is starting anew together on all of those sunrises and still being committed at all of those sunsets."" He is happy again beyond the sunset. He is survived by his son, Michael Culbreth; two granddaughters, Anna and Chrissie; a sister, Rebekah McGlamry and husband E. Dalton and several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday, May 17, 2012 at Center Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Pastor Bryan Miller officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Center Grove Baptist Church, 8200 Center Grove Church Rd., Clemmons, NC 27012. Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com



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