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A resolution honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Charles Kimbrough.
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WHEREAS, Nashville civil rights activist, veteran, veterinarian, and minister Dr. Charles Edward Kimbrough passed away at the age of 98 on March 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kimbrough was born in 1928 and raised in Giles County, Tennessee during the height of the Jim Crow era; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kimbrough enlisted in the U.S. Army and served six years during the Korean War, earning a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and a Korean Service Medal; and
WHEREAS, after receiving an honorable discharge, Dr. Kimbrough enrolled at what is now Tennessee State University and earned a degree in biology; and
WHEREAS, he later earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine at what is now Tuskegee University; becoming one of the first African-American veterinarians licensed in the state of Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kimbrough become politically active during his studies, leading him to become more aware of discriminatory policies and to build a strong resolve towards eliminating racial injustice; and
WHEREAS, he organized NAACP branches in Illinois and Tennessee, participated in the second Selma march and the March on Washington, and had a role in local protests including the Tennessee State University sit-ins in 1990; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kimbrough served as president of the Nashville branch of the NAACP from 1973 to 1980, as he advocated for the African-American community and broadened the reach of the local chapter; and
WHEREAS, he also served as pastor New Hope Baptist Church in Sparta, Illinois and Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Watertown, Tennessee and later as an associate minister at Spruce Street Baptist Church in Nashville; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kimbrough is survived by his wife of 33 years, Dr. Blondell Strong Kimbrough, and his two children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council honors the life of Dr. Charles Kimbrough and his decade...
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