Alma M Culbert

Alma M.E. Riley was born on February 1, 1929 in St. George, South Carolina. As the country entered the Great Depression, her parents sought work out of state. Alma was placed in the loving care of an angel, who came to be known as "Mama." Educated in the South Carolina school system, Alma was a strict grammarian with an exceptional mastery of the language. She could have easily been the Oprah of her generation. Later in life, she would apply those skills to a number of administrative positions. As a young woman, Alma migrated to New York City, where she met and married a devout seminary student. Coincidentally, he too was a South Carolinian. His own "Mama," Aunt Sarah Smith, who had raised him after the death of his mother, founded and pastored Bethlehem Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. Arthur Nathaniel Culbert was ordained to the Christian ministry, continuing the legacy of his family. Alma was the consummate "Church Lady," dressed to the nines with hat, gloves, and all the accoutrements. In the tradition of their mother, her girls recited Scripture at an early age. They attended Sunday School and looked forward to new outfits, patent leather shoes, and crinoline slips on Easter Sunday. That's back when purses and handbags were called "pocketbooks" and pantyhose hadn't been invented. For years, Alma worked as a homemaker. Every Saturday, she baked two cakes, one for her family, the other for the church. Yet, at the school "Bake Sales," her daughters awaited the chance to purchase a slice, as though they'd never tasted it in their lives. To this day, friends remember Mrs. Culbert's chocolate cake. Her favorite hymns were "How Great Thou Art" and "His Eye is On the Sparrow." She loved James Cleveland, Shirley Caesar, Dorothy Norwood, and any number of gospel singers. Her collection of 33 1/3 LPs were among her most prized possessions. On October 15, 2012, Alma closed her eyes on this earth to reopen them in her Father's kingdom. She was predeceased by "Mama," her husband, Rev. Arthur N. Culbert, mother, Blossom G. Hooper, daughter, Brynda Chandler-Daly, grandson, Brandon T. Brunson, and her two siblings, Harry Lewis and Millie R. Marshall. She leaves to mourn daughters, Claudia D. Davis, Sharon B. Brunson, Candace A. Williams, Michelle R. Culbert, and Dawn Marie Culbert. A host of relatives include her grandchildren, Tanise and husband Derrell, Kris, David, Marisa, Michael, great grands, nieces, nephews, their children, and son-in-law, Rev. Thomas Williams. She was "Mommy," "T" (Auntie), and just plain "Alma" to those who loved her. As we celebrate her homegoing today, remember that she believed in a better place and a Savior who would deliver her. We have no doubt that by His grace, we will see her on the other side. Friends and relatives are invited to visit Sunday 5-7 PM at Volk Leber Funeral Home, 789 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ. Funeral services will commence Monday 9AM at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Englewood, NJ. Interment to follow at Calverton National Cemetery, Riverhead, NY.