Stanley Collins Culbreth Jr.

1948 - 2026

Stanley Collins "Rusty" Culbreth Jr. passed away peacefully on February 16th, 2026. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Marlene, whose partnership and love were the steady foundation beneath all that Rusty built. He leaves behind his daughter Collins Zimmer and her husband Jared, granddaughters Zoe and Cayla, his son Lance Culbreth and his wife Alissa, and his sister Karen Harrison and her husband Lewis "Buddy" Harrison, and several cousins, each of them carrying forward the strength, character, and love he gave so freely throughout his life.

Rusty was born December 20, 1948 in Durham, North Carolina, the son of Stanley Collins Culbreth Sr. and Frankie Fesperman Culbreth. Rusty's parents modeled love, hard work and service to their community and church home. These values laid the foundation for Rusty's pursuit of an impactful life. Rusty attended Grimsley High School (Greensboro, NC) followed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Relations. He started and was a letterman for 3 years as a defensive back and punt returner for the (1969-71) UNC Tarheel football team, bringing the same tenacity and heart to the game that he would carry with him for the rest of his life. It was at Carolina that he met Marlene, the woman who would become his partner and the love of his life.

Rusty had an entrepreneur's spirit, and his career spanned nearly five decades from 1972 through 2018. For 25 years, Rusty and Marlene resided in Ormond Beach, FL. His career began in the credit bureau industry, where he built a sharp understanding of business and finance. Over the years he founded and grew multiple companies including: Air Forwarding Systems, Shamrock Leasing Co, ELAB, Empirical Lab Inc., EcoGroup Inc., and Handex, always approaching his work with diligence, purpose, and a genuine desire to create something worthwhile. His accomplishments were measured not by titles or milestones, but by the people he helped along the way. That spirit led him and his partners to the mountains of Western North Carolina in 1996, where they founded Trillium Links and Lake Club, a golf course and residential community in the heart of Cashiers. It was more than a development; it was a place Rusty and partners envisioned for families to gather, make memories, and to experience mountain life at its finest. Rusty loved and served his employees and in turn, they were loyal to him. Several Trillium employees spanned decades of devotion, a testament to the relationships Rusty built.

Through every season of life, Rusty was devoted to his family. He was a loving husband and a steady father who showed his love through presence, consistency, humor, and gentle care. He adored spending time with his two granddaughters and attending their athletic events. To his friends and community, he was loyal, genuine, and deeply respected. He had a way of making people feel at ease, often through laughter, and always showed up when it mattered most. Rusty had a sparkle in his eye and a contagious smile.

Rusty lived a full and joyful life. He was a member of Grace Mills River Church and a devoted member of men's Bible Study groups both in Florida and North Carolina. He lived his life through faith in Christ, and his special calling was to love and mentor young people. He enjoyed connecting with people and building relationships over meals, tennis, golf, and playing on the lake with his family and friends. Rusty was a reader and loved Christian literature, thrillers and business leadership genres. He was a man who loved traveling the world with his family and friends; visiting multiple countries and cultures brought him immense joy and curiosity. He was a lover of music, sports, and settling in to watch a great movie with his wife in his arms. He embraced life with an open and grateful heart and found pleasure in both the grand adventures and the quieter moments.

Faith was at the center of everything for Rusty. His faith guided his values, shaped his character, and showed up, not in words, but in the way he lived, the integrity of his choices, and the generosity he extended to everyone around him. He will be remembered as a faithful, kind, and wonderful man. He was a leader with a servant's heart.

The celebration of life will be held on April 25th, 2026, at 2pm at Grace Mills River Church (495 Cardinal Rd, Mills River, NC 28759).

In honor of Rusty's life and faith, the family invites those who wish to make a memorial contribution to consider donating to the following three charities near and dear to Rusty's heart: The Trillium Chapel – a beautiful sanctuary built by Marlene and Rusty Culbreth as a separate non-profit on Trillium property as a place for community worship and gathering; Mountain Aging Partners – A nonprofit in the Asheville area compassionately dedicated to aging adults and support for their caregivers; and Compassion International – A Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to the holistic development of children living in poverty.

*Trillium Chapel--48 Links Dr--Cashiers, NC 28717

*Mountain Aging Partners--Buncombe Adult Day--105 King Creek Blvd--Hendersonville, NC 28792 (Please include "Memorial Gift" in the memo line along with the name "Rusty Culbreth")

*Compassion International--Attn: Sponsor Donor Processing--12290 Voyager Pkwy--Colorado Springs, CO 80921 (Please include "Memorial Gift" in the memo line along with the name "Rusty Culbreth")