The Culberson Boys

Growing up in a small rural community, my three adult cousins were always a fixture in the community. The Culberson Boys were not dynamic speakers or community leaders. They were just three brothers bounded by love and an unselfish willingness to serve.

Ruben (Cool Papa) , Lafayette (Fed), and Randolph (Ray) were honored at our annual Tibbee Community Homecoming Weekend a few years back. The brothers did not like the attention being shown to them, but they posed for a picture along with my other cousin Catherine, who had become their primary care giver.

We will bury the last of the three brothers on April 24th in the community that they loved and were forever beholding to. I recall my mother telling me that the boys had to drop out of school at very early ages to help their parents work in the fields. I hope the obituary and conversations with other family members will reveal more about their past.

These three black men lived to be very old men despite their challenges with the 3rd grade education. Each brother had a distinct personality that was bound to bring a smile to your face. I never witnessed them being unkind to others or surprisingly no one being unkind to them. Seeing them grow into old age was both an honor and a pleasure.

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Rudolph Ray Culberson was born in West Point, Mississippi on December 10, 1927 to the union of Jim Culberson and Grozella Watson Culberson. He was the oldest of seven siblings. His earthly life ended January 26, 2018, in West Point, Mississippi. He received his limited formal education in Oktibbeha County and later continued his education at Munger School in Tibbee. He confessed Christ at an early age at Mt Pisgah Baptist Church and was baptized. He remained a faithful member until his health failed. Ray, Fed, and Mozell would stand outside of the church every Sunday morning, waiting for the doors to open. Ray enjoyed life to the fullest. He never met a stranger.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Geneva; brothers, James Perry, Marshall, and Mozell Culberson. He leaves to cherish his memories a devoted niece, Catherine; brother, Lafayette and sister, Minnie Lou Bethea.

He will forever live on in the memories of his first cousin and best friend, Joe B. Amos; nieces, nephews, cousins, and the Tibbee Community.9:55am • Edit • Delete

Ruben Culberson
Mr. Culberson was born Sept. 23, 1944, to the late Jim and Grozella Culberson. He was a member of Mt. Pisgah MB Church and C.F.U. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, James Perry, Geneva Culberson and Marshall Culberson. He is survived by his siblings, Rudolph and Lafayette Culberson, both of West Point, and Minnie Lou Bethea of Stockton, California.9:55am • Edit • Delete

Lafayette Culberson
God saw the road getting rough-the hills were hard to climb, He gently closed his loving eyes and whispered “Peace Be Thine.”

Lafayette Culberson was born on April 10, 1 933 in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi to the union of late Grozelia Watson Culberson and Jim Culberson. He was the fourth of seven children.

Lafayette departed this life on April 1 7, 2021 at his home in the West Point Tibbee Community.

He confessed hope in Christ at an early age and joined the Mt. Pisgah M.B. Church. His life was built around working with Billy Coleman Dairy Farm, and afterward, he continued to do farm work with Joe B., until his health failed.

Lafayette leaves to cherish his memory: a loving and wonderful niece, Catherine Culberson of West Point, Mississippi. He leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.

Four brothers preceded him in death: Rudolph, James Perry, Ruben Mozell, and Marshall Culberson: two sisters: Minnie Bethea, and Geneva Culberson.