ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Loved ones and community members are mourning the loss of a trailblazer in education and a pillar in the Albany community.

Dr. John Culbreath, who broke barriers in 1995 when he became Dougherty County’s first Black superintendent of schools, died Tuesday evening.

“When I got the news that he had passed, it really had an impact on me, a big one,” said Theodus Drake, Dr. Culbreath’s Pastor, Second Mount Zion.

“He has truly made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. This was a man of God, truly, he embodied God,” said Aunquarius Brown-Reed, mentee of Dr. Culbreath

Those who knew Dr. John Culbreath fight back tears, remembering the difference he made in their lives. They recall Dr. Culbreath as a visionary in Southwest Georgia, building schools, improving academic standards, and championing technology in classrooms. And his daughter, Cynthia Culbreath, says he balanced his work with being a great father.

“My father was a role model. I believe that all heroes should start at home, and he was that. My father raised us to believe that nothing was impossible to achieve if we were willing to work hard. So I’m proud to be John Culbreath’s daughter,” said Cynthia.

Beyond education leadership, Dr. Culbreath served 14 years on the Phoebe Putney Hospital Board. He was also deeply involved with the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and helped launch “Strive2Thrive,” a program focused on lifting families out of poverty.

“Despite your circumstances, everything would have said that my father would be a statistic. Raised in a single-parent home, that he was not going to be successful. But when you have the support of your family and community, you believe in yourself and most importantly, you’re willing to work hard, there’s limitless possibilities to what you can do. My father is just one example of that in real life,” said Cynthia.

Not only was Dr. Culbreath an agent of change within the community, but he also took his gifts and talents to church, where he cultivated the minds of the next generation.

“He was the head of our mind ministry. He would get in the pulpit and read off the names of the children who would turn their grades in and he would have a program for the children that needed assistance to mentor and help them,” said Pastor Drake.

That mentorship is something that Brown-Reed says he holds near to his heart.

“He changed my viewpoints and trajectory of life as a male, as a black man in this community. Even in times when I felt like I didn’t belong. He said ‘No! You are meant to be there, don’t ever think you don’t belong just because of your background and where you came from’,” he said.

Funeral Arrangements have not yet been made, but as soon as do get that information, we will be sure to update you.

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