Malcolm Hilburn

Malcolm Hilburn

Funeral services for Malcolm Hilburn, 83, of Chickasha, OK will be held Saturday March 12, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 320 West Colorado Ave., Chickasha, OK.

Viewing will take place at Miles/Brown A.M.E. Chapel, 702 Shepherd Street, Chickasha, OK fro 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Interment will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Brown/Christian Funeral Home.

Malcolm Hilburn passed away peacefully at home on March 9th at the age of 83. He was born May 29, 1922 in Kilgore, Texas to Carlysle and Comilla Hilburn. After graduating from Emmitt Scott High School in Tyler, Texas, Malcolm joined the Army and served in the Pacific during World War II. He suffered a severely broken leg during his active military duty. It was during his convalescence from this injury that he met and married Eddie B. Brown and relocated to Chickasha, Oklahoma. After leaving the military, Hilburn attended Langston University and earned a degree in Industrial Arts. While at Langston, Malcolm pledged with the Omega Phi Si Fraternity. He later added a master's degree in school administration from SWOSU in Weatherford. Hilburn began a long career as an Oklahoma educator with his first coaching and teaching assignment in Hominy, Oklahoma. He was a teacher, coach, and administrator in the Chickasha Public School system for 30 years. Malcolm became the first African American administrator after the full integration of the Chickasha school system when he was named principal of the Chickasha Junior High School. Hilburn was known as an effective principal, who provided structure, discipline, leadership, and encouragement to faculty, staff, and students.

Since his retirement in 1986, Malcolm pursued his interests in collecting guns and knives, training bird dogs, hunting and fishing, and actively managing his rental properties. People in the community also came to expect to see Malcolm in his pickup truck, making his daily "rounds" to visit his many family and friends.

Hilburn was a devoted member of the Miles-Brown C.M.E. Church, and was instrumental in the project to reopen the church after it was closed for many years due to deteriorating facilities and low membership. Malcolm was very proud that Miles-Brown is now a vibrant church with an active, growing, and engaged membership. He received numerous awards and recognition for his leadership and achievements in education and community service. He didn't talk much about his personal achievements, which were numerous, but spoke often about his pride in the accomplishments of the many young people he had taught, coached or mentored over the years. Malcolm was a compassionate and caring person, who practiced giving second chances and helping people in need. All those who knew him will miss him deeply, but will retain many special memories.

Malcolm was preceded in death by his first wife, Eddie B. who passed away in 1970; sisters Aileen, May, Carmel, and Ruth; and a brother Roger. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Malyne Lee Gallimore; daughter Maxine Hilburn and her husband Charles Groce of Hartford, CT; son Julius and wife Jan of Oklahoma City and grandchildren Bryan, Justin and Jillian; stepdaughter Gail Arnett and husband Jay of Lawndale, CA; stepson Tommy Galimore of Norman, Oklahoma and grandchildren Lauren and Lanie; numerous aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins and other loving family members. He had very special relationships with his brothers-in-law and their families; Adolph Brown, Arthur (Fat) Brown, and Ronald Lee.

Friends and family can pay their respects Friday afternoon and evening (March 11) at Miles-Brown Chapel C.M.E. Church in Chickasha. Services will be held on Saturday March 12, at the First Baptist Church of Chickasha, 324 W. Colorado, under the direction of the Brown-Christian Funeral Home.