By Kameel Stanley, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Jesten Culbreth, Quentin Hicks and Brian Mills sit together for the Second Chance Education Recognition Program at Christ Gospel Church on Saturday. Relatives came from across the country to see Culbreth, 72, receive his GED.
ST. PETERSBURG
At the moment he received his GED on Saturday, Jesten Culbreth couldn't hold back his emotions.
The 72-year-old had waited decades for this.
As a child in Georgia, Culbreth was allowed to go to school only when it rained. The other days he was expected to work on the family farm. He dropped out of school after seventh grade, not sure if he'd ever have a graduation ceremony.
His moment came on Saturday. Clad in a blue cap and gown, he marched to "Pomp and Circumstance" down the center aisle at Christ Gospel Church.
"I tried to hold myself together but ...