Ray Culpepper

Mr. Culpepper passed away at the age of 75 years. He was born February 13, 1935 in Saginaw, MI, the son of Walter and Ruby (Pitts) Culpepper. Mr. Culpepper was a graduate of the Saginaw High School class of 1953. He worked at the Grey Iron Foundry for a short time before joining the U. S. Marine Corps. In 1952, he became a volunteer with the Lutheran Charities Neighborhood House Community Center in Saginaw, MI, a place he often went to during his early teenage years. In 1959, he was hired as a full-time staff member and in 1964, Mr. Culpepper became the Program Director. He retired on January 10, 1997 after 45 years of exemplary dedicated service. Mr. Culpepper received numerous recognitions, including the 1980 Man of the Year Award from the Saginaw Business Women's Association, the Southside Community Award and Black History Month Civic Achievement Award in 1981, the Educational Commitment to the City of Saginaw Award in 1982, the President's Award from the Lutheran Social Services of Michigan in 1993 and the Southwest Saginaw Village Community Service Award in 1996. Mr. Culpepper was a mentor to many, many young people and will be greatly missed. He leaves to cherish his precious memory, three brothers, Robert (Alberta) and Lanary Ralph (Shirley), all of Saginaw, MI and Russell (Edna) of Lancaster, TX; one sister, Brenda (Carl) Galvin of Saginaw, MI; many nieces, nephews and cousins; three sisters-in-law, Prestine of Detroit, MI, Jean of San Antonio, TX, Edna of Maryland and Dorothy of Saginaw, MI; the many young people he mentored and helped to raise, and numerous co-workers and friends. Mr. Culpepper was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Millard, Eldridge, Richard and Raymond; three sisters, Lamurel Johnson, Bernice Jones and Barbara "Boots" Smith; and a sister-in-law, Leora "Red Top" Culpepper. Per his request, Mr. Culpepper has been cremated. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 25, 2011 at The Neighborhood House, 3145 Russell Street. Elder Dempsey Allen will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Neighborhood House in memory of Ray Culpepper.

Ray Culpepper

February 13, 1935 - February 5, 2011