Mrs. Rosemary Gordon Culbreth

Mrs. Rosemary Gordon Culbreth, loving wife, devoted mother, faithful friend and dedicated believer passed away Friday, August 5, 2011 at her home. She was born June 20, 1924 in Clemmons to the late David C. and Ina B. Gordon. She graduated from Clemmons High School where she was a trophy-winning, Journal and Sentinel All Star in basketball, a championship tennis player and she was also on the soccer and softball teams. Mrs. Culbreth played city league basketball for McLean Trucking and Woolworth's after high school. She attended Pearl Binkley's Business School until employed by McLean Trucking Company as secretary to M.P. ""Malcom"" McLean, J.K. McLean and others, including M.C. ""Red"" Benton. She and her husband, Jimmy, worked together until she left for the birth of her son, Michael in 1948. Later she was employed by City Memorial Hospital as medical records secretary, working directly with surgeons and also worked as Executive Secretary to Col. Marion Hawes in the U.S. Air Force. Mrs. Culbreth held employee dinners and hunts at the Gordon home place. She subsequently became secretary to Dr. Mark Depp at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem and later to Zeb E. Barnhardt and youth minister Richard Hanner. Finally she joined R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company as Administrative Assistant to Charles B. Wade, Jr., V.P. of HR, where she also worked for former Chairman, John C. Whitaker, who became a treasured friend of the family. She retired from Reynolds after 22 years of service. Throughout her career, she remained joyfully active and a constant encourager in her son's school life and sports, from first grade through college. In her 87 years, she never moved from her Clemmons home place. She, her parents and grandparents were life-long members of Center Grove Baptist Church. Her grandfather donated the timber for the first church building. She began playing piano at the church at age 13 and retired as church organist at age 63, with her husband, Jimmy as song leader. Mrs. Culbreth also survived triple bypass surgery in 2002. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Jimmy Culbreth; a son, Michael Culbreth; two granddaughters, Anna and Chrissie; a sister, Miriam Dean; niece, Judi Rose and husband Thomas and a nephew, David Dean. A graveside service with be held 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 8, 2011 at Center Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Dr. Steve Corts officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Center Grove Baptist Church, 8750 Lasater Rd., Clemmons, NC 27012 or to First Baptist Church Television Ministry, 501 West Fifth Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com. Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel is serving the family.

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