Reverend Dr. John Henry Corbitt, Jr.

The Reverend Dr. John Henry Corbitt, Jr., was born in a segregated hospital in Salley, Aiken County, South Carolina, on August 24, 1941. He was the second of two sons born to the late John Henry Corbitt, Sr., and Thelma Ellison Corbitt. Rev. Dr. Corbitt, 84, transitioned from labor to reward on September 21, 2025, at his residence. He placed a high premium on higher education, both personally and professionally. 

That educational foundation was shaped at South Carolina State University, where he attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He received terminal degrees from the Interdenominational Theological Center and the Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia; a Master of Divinity and earned a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary on the campus of the University of Chicago, in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, in 1979.

 He was the first Black Clergy in South Carolina to receive the Doctoral Degree in Ministry in South Carolina. In 1990, the McCormick Theological Seminary gave him special recognition as “Alumnus of the Year.” His thirst for knowledge led him to post-doctoral studies at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, and Yale University in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut. On July 2, 1967, Reverend Corbitt was united in holy matrimony to the love of his life, Betty Jean Starks. This union was blessed with two sons, Bruce Alvin and Terry Starks. Mrs. Corbitt’s warm and welcoming spirit allowed her to emphasize her unique calling to support her husband, their family and the congregations that they would serve. 

Rev. Dr. Corbitt drew strength from Betty, his wife of fifty-one (51) golden years. Mrs. Corbitt made her transition to the Kingdom on August 7, 2018. Reverend Corbitt received a call to lead the ministry as pastor of Bells Chapel Baptist Church in Bells, Crockett County, Tennessee. From that post, he served as pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Reverend Corbitt’s devotion and vocation to serve humanity flourished as the pastor of the historic Springfield Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina, from 1974 to 2011. He retired from the pulpit in 2015 from Monks Grove Baptist Church in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Dr. John H. Corbitt was initiated into the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. 

He rose to become the Chapter President in Greenville. He was a lifetime member of the international organization and embodied the motto, “Culture for Service and Service for Humanity.”

 Reverend Corbitt leaves to cherish his legacy and memories:   his son, Bruce; seven grandchildren, Sydney, Caleb Terry Jr., Taylor, Tyra, Julianna, and Terry Young; eighteen great-grandchildren; three nieces; and two nephews. Furthermore, he also leaves a bevy of family members, colleagues and coworkers, church members and friends.

Funeral Services: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 12:00pm, at Springfield Baptist Church, with interment in Resthaven Memorial Gardens.