Rev. Dr. Charles Edward Kimbrough

The Reverend Dr. Charles E. Kimbrough, was born in Prospect, TN, a rural section of Giles County and was the third child of Sterling and Azie Kimbrough. Early in life, he experienced discrimination when “Negro” children were not allowed to ride the bus to their designated school located ten miles away. So he worked on the family’s farm for two years until a bus became available. As a result, he entered high school at the age of eighteen completing only the tenth grade at Bridgeforth High School in Pulaski. After learning that he would be able to earn a higher education via the GI Bill, he decided to join the U. S. Army as the vehicle that would propel him to fulfill his goal. He earned a high school diploma in one year via the GED Program and enrolled in a number of medical related programs finishing top in his Army Medical Technology class.

He served six years in the armed services where he confronted racist and discriminatory actions but he stood his ground. An injury during the Korean War required him to be hospitalized for seven months state side. Although he was not required to return overseas, he chose to return during his second three year commitment rather than train another soldier, not of African descent, to replace him as the orthopedic ward master. For his valiant service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal and the Purple Heart.

Within three months of an honorary discharge, he enrolled at Tennessee A & I State University (now Tennessee State University) earning a degree in Biology with honors after just three years of matriculation. He then enrolled at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) to study veterinary medicine. While studying there, he became politically active resulting in him becoming more acutely aware of discriminatory practices.

He joined the Tuskegee Civic Association, a group formed after the Alabama State Legislature disenfranchised the NAACP. The Association was headed by Professor Charles Gomillion, who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the South Christian Leadership Conference to increase voter registration in the South among Blacks. Dr. Gomillion became the lead plaintiff in the landmark 1960 civil rights case Gomillion v. Lightfoot that led the U. S. Supreme Court to declare gerrymandering unconstitutional. This decision reversed Macon County’s 28-sided redistricting configuration that had prevented citizens of color from registering to vote. It was during this time, that Kimbrough developed a stronger determination to work towards eliminating racial injustices.

His 60 years of civil rights work has been varied. He organized NAACP branches in Illinois and Tennessee. During the summer of 1967, he spent his annual vacation to work with Roy Wilkins and Althea Simmons, leaders of the NAACP’s National Registration Project, registering African-Americans in the “Boot Hills” of Southeast Missouri, then known for its poverty-stroke communities. He participated in the second Selma March and returned to Selma on September 11, 2000 to participate in the NAACP’s Get-Out-the-Vote Campaign on the day of the September 12, 2000 election. Prior to the NAACP’s on-the-ground campaign before the election day, many of the 69.7% of African-Americans felt intimidated and would not cast their vote in elections because their participation might threaten their lives or livelihoods. The NAACP’s work resulted in Selma electing its first mayor of African descent on that jubilant day.

He also participated in the first March on Washington and later the 30th Anniversary March and other local protests including the 1990 TSU student protest led by Student Government Association President Jeff Carr. The protest resulted in a sit-in at the Avon Williams Campus for two weeks before the state allocated $120 million for campus improvements that had been demanded by the students. Dr. Kimbrough was present during the entire two weeks.

His NAACP membership solicitations were noted at times by being recognized as a member of the NAACP’s Million Dollar Club and the 100 Club during national conventions. Dr. Kimbrough served in a number of leadership roles including President of the Nashville Branch from 1973 – 1980 and held other leadership positions as chairperson of several standing committees that carry out the important work of the Association. During all of 2003 and into a short time of 2004, he worked full-time as a volunteer to maintain the branch’s regular office hours along with other volunteers he recruited to give the branch top leadership ample time to carry out its strategic plan that included employing staff to maintain the office hours.

He advocated for justice for individuals who, too often, become victims of an unjust court system. His advocacy, working beside others, including court appointed attorneys, led to the release of several inmates from prison. One such person had served more than 30 years in a correctional facility.

In addition to serving as a civil rights advocate and veterinarian, he served as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Sparta, IL and Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Watertown, TN and later as an associate minister at Nashville’s Spruce Street Baptist Church.

His memberships include being a life member and a Golden Heritage member of the NAACP; Eta Beta Sigma Chapter, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., having joined while he was a student at Tennessee A & I. He was inducted into the Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honor Society during the same matriculation period.

For his work in the community, a number of honors have been bestowed upon him. Among them are the Points of Light Foundation President’s Award; The Tennessee ACLU Lifetime Achievement Award; the Northwest YMCA James “Tex” Thomas Humanitarian Award; National Visionary Leadership Project 1st Place Award as co-recipient with a Fisk University Student; the Maxine & Vasco Smith Advocacy Award and the Dr. William McKinley DeBerry Community Service Award from the NAACP Tennessee State Conference; and, Sigma Man of the Year. He was the first recipient of the Dr. Charles E. Kimbrough Medal of Honor established by the NAACP Nashville Branch that continues to be awarded annually.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 33 years, Dr. Blondell Strong Kimbrough; a brother, Mr. Lorence Kimbrough; his two adult children Rev. Dr. Adric Winters Kimbrough and Mrs. Gwenell Buchanan; daughter-in-law Mrs. Kimberly Kimbrough and son-in-law Mr. Charles Buchanan; the children’s mother, Rev. Dr. Edith Kimbrough; three surrogate adult children, Misters Stanford Strong, Jeff Strong and Jeffery Brown; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. He is affectionately known as “Daddy Kimbrough” to Metro 5th District Court Judge Robin Kimbrough Hayes and 1st District Councilperson Atty. Joy Smith Kimbrough.

Known to many as “Doc,” he leaves behind 9 nieces and 10 nephews; 7 great-nieces and 20 great-nephews; 9 great-great- nieces and 14 great-great-nephews; and, 1 great-great-great-niece.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations:

NAACP Nashville Branch P. O. Box 280992 Nashville, TN 37228

Memo: Dr. Charles E. Kimbrough Medal of Honor Award

Eta Beta Sigma Chapter Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. P. O. Box 22052

Nashville, TN 37202 Memo: Education Fund