Rebecca Shirley McCulloh

1954 - 2016

Rebecca Shirley McCulloh

March 20, 1954 - July 6, 2016

Chapel Hill

Reverend Rebecca Shirley McCulloh, 62, passed away on July 6, 2016 at Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC Chapel Hill.

The legacy of Rebecca McCulloh is found in the trinity of ministry, advocacy and community service. Her life was one of daily and constant service; she spent her life in a committed walk as activist, therapist, feminist, and preacher. In the last week as tributes to Rebecca poured in, the themes and thoughts repeated, "She saved me." "I am alive today because of her." "My life changed because of her." "How many lives did she touch? How many lives did she influence? How many lives did she help? Many. So many. And the cumulative effect was like an iceberg of love in this world where we can only see the smallest tip."

Rebecca's insight, heart and perceptiveness gave her the ability to guide and mentor people in a way that made them feel as though they had figured things out on their own. She had the capability of helping others see in themselves the good they often could not see. She had the incredible gift of helping others find humor in even the hardest of times. Her vision was immense and helped her create and shape programs and services for the people of her community who were most in need. Her humor and wit were as large as her vision. She was a gifted storyteller and her experiences and the events that shaped lives along with her rich and dry wit were woven into her many stories. Through her work she brought about sustained, positive, impactful change in the lives of individuals and organizations.

Rebecca was a graduate of Agnes Scott College and the Vanderbilt University Divinity School. She was the co-founder and first ED of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Center of Nashville. Living in Nashville, Wilmington, Pittsboro and Carrboro, she served as a prison Chaplain to men's and women's prisons, social worker and therapist. In 1987 she met her long-time business partner and as Rebecca always defined her - BFF, Doris Colomb. Rebecca and Doris were immediate BFF's finding in each other the characteristics of themselves, bright, feisty, feminist, idealistic, loving, down to earth, and happy to tell you about it. Thirty years ago they formed their business partnership, "Taking Care of You" based on a shared framework of moral and ethical treatment that honored the whole person and empowered people to self-care.

Rebecca was a long-time Board member of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC) and served as President of the IFC Board. One of Rebecca's proudest achievements was the completion of the capital campaign and subsequent building of the new IFC at SECU Community House men's homeless shelter in 2014, both during her term as President.

In 2003 she co-founded Chapel Hill Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with Michael Shannon and Mike Byerly and she served as its pastor from 2003 until her passing. Rebecca knew that we are all the beloved children of a loving God, that we could cut ourselves off from God, but God didn't cut herself off from us. She often said, "We are all beauty in the eyes of God."

Near the end of her life when asked what could be done for her, her response was, "Stay competent." For her this meant, do the work, "always have an action item." Those who knew her best understood that she lived each day by the phrase "Was I brave and strong and true? Did I live my life with love my whole life through?"  Rebecca lived love her whole life through.

Rebecca was preceded in death by her parents Rayburn Eugene McCulloh and Juanita Latimer McCulloh. She is survived by her brother, Rayburn Latimer McCulloh and his wife Marie, nephew Rayburn Eugene McCulloh II and niece Elizabeth Grace McCulloh.

The service of remembrance for Rebecca Shirley McCulloh will be held at 3:00 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Chapel, Hill, NC on July 24, 2016.

Memorials can be made to the IFC to HomeStart for the Rebecca McCulloh Programs for Children fund. Rebecca cared deeply for the many neighbors assisted by the IFC and especially for the children who stayed with their mothers in the HomeStart shelter. Memorials may be sent to: IFC, 110 West Main, Carrboro, NC 27510.