CENTRE — Community leaders and employees applauded Jerry Culberson last Thursday night for his leadership during the past 23 years as he transformed the Cherokee County Health and Rehabilitation Center (CCHRC) from a 53-bed nursing home to a 185-bed world-class facility.

At a surprise dinner, about 250 people paid tribute to Culberson as he retires as administrator of CCHRC. Cindy Cline, a longtime employee and former director of nursing, has been appointed administrator.

Culberson had the foresight to see what the county and area needed to meet the needs of residents, said Eric Ellis, a member of the Cherokee Health Care Authority, which oversees CCHRC.

Five expansions during the past few years helped CCHRC increase its specialty units and the services it provides. Cherokee Health and Rehab was the first in the area to have an Alzheimer's unit.

“Now we're the model for the state and Southeast,” Ellis said.

Another first was the day-care center for employees' children, a service that was unheard of in the health care industry when it opened, Ellis said.

Culberson also was the driving force behind adding Cherokee Village, an assisted living complex; a rehab unit, and the Dean Buttram Sr. Senior Citizens Center. A new wing, which will open this fall, increases the number of private rooms for residents. Culberson also managed the county's nutrition center, which is at the Senior Center.

From 58 employees in 1988 to more than five times that number today, CCHRC has become one of the county's largest employers.

State Rep. Richard Lindsey said Culberson had the vision and the discipline to make CCHRC what it is today -- and he also had compassion.

“He's a great person and I'm honored to be here to pay tribute to him,” Lindsey said.

Probate Judge Melvyn Salter said Culberson was a big dreamer, and “he did everything he could to make that dream a reality.”

Salter said people come from all over the state and nation to see CCHRC.

Dr. Martha Lavender, president of Gadsden State Cherokee, said when she met Culberson in 2008 she saw how much he valued education. He is committed to the nursing school and he and his wife, Pat Culberson, award two scholarships every year to nursing students: the Edward L. Culberson Nursing Scholarship for his father and the Dessie Swan Stephens Nursing Scholarship for Mrs. Culberson's mother.

Culberson also paid the tuition for five Gadsden State students, one from each of Cherokee County's high schools, Lavender said.

“He is a man of purpose,” she said, but he “never brings himself front and center.”

The Cherokee Health Care Authority will now award a Gadsden State scholarship in Culberson's name every year.

Dr. Byron Nelson, the medical director at CCHRC, said Culberson has changed the face of health care in this area forever. When Culberson came to Cherokee County 23 years ago, people thought we couldn't afford new services, Dr. Nelson said.

But Culberson saw the situation as an opportunity to improve long-term health care.

“People know they're going to get good care here,” Dr. Nelson said.

Culberson has earned the highest recognition his profession offers. He has been Administrator of the Year for Alabama and CCHRC has repeatedly been chosen as a “Best Practices” facility by the Alabama Nursing Home Association.
Culberson said “no one ever does it alone.”

He praised his family and the employees at CCHRC for supporting him.
“I'm extremely blessed,” he said.