Jefferson County civil rights leader remembered as "an advocate for what's right"

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — James A. Tolbert Sr., a longtime civil rights leader in Jefferson County and across West Virginia, was remembered Tuesday for being an "advocate of what's right."

Tolbert, who died on Thursday, was 85.

Born in Charles Town, W.Va., Tolbert did not turn his back on anyone who believed they were mistreated, said George Rutherford, president of the Jefferson County branch of the NAACP.

He "really believed in helping his fellow man," said Rutherford, who grew up with Tolbert in Charles Town.

Tolbert, who graduated from Page-Jackson High School in Charles Town in 1950, would later push the county school district to integrate its schools in the 1960s.

The former black school now houses administrative offices for the Jefferson County Board of Education.

During the Korean War, Tolbert served in U.S. Air Force as a dental laboratory technician in Japan and then obtained a degree in zoology from West Virginia State University in 1958 following his military service.

Rutherford, who was three years behind Tolbert in high school, said they began working together in 1969, when Tolbert was president of the county's NAACP branch. Tolbert later served as president of the NAACP's West Virginia Conference from 1986 to 2007.

Former Jefferson County Commissioner Dale Manuel said Tolbert was very professional in his advocacy efforts, and was equally as persistent.

"He didn't back off," Manuel said. "I think he was an advocate for what's right."

While serving in the West Virginia Legislature, Manuel recalled working with Tolbert on policies related to law enforcement, hate crimes and other community concerns.

Both Manuel and Rutherford noted Tolbert's involvement in numerous activities, which included efforts to preserve black history as well as cultural landmarks like Fisherman's Hall in Charles Town.

Rutherford said Tolbert took pride in everything he did and wasn't looking for a pat on the back.

But his efforts didn't go unnoticed.

In 2011, Tolbert was honored with the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award from West Virginia University's Center for Black Culture and Research.

In bestowing the award, the university recognized Tolbert's work to obtain land-grant status and appropriate funding for West Virginia State University, a historically black college.

WVU also noted Tolbert's advocacy for the employment of blacks in positions that would have been denied them before the Civil Rights Act.

As state NAACP vice president from 1976 to 1986, Tolbert lobbied the governor and the legislature on equality and social justice issues and helped to increase the number of minority-owned businesses in the state, the university said.

In 1976, Tolbert was presented with the state chapter of the NAACP's highest honor, the T.G. Nutter Award, and received a number of other honors and awards in the years that followed.

Tolbert was "a drum major" for peace and justice, Rutherford said.

The funeral service for Tolbert will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Zion Episcopal Church at 301 E. Congress St. in Charles Town.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV 25430.