Mr. Leslie Haywood Kimbrough of died suddenly and unexpectedly on April 29, 2012. Leslie was born January 26, 1948 in Winston-Salem to Ms. Doris Kimbrough.

In Winston-Salem he attended grade school and graduated from Anderson High School in 1966. He continued educational pursuits at Winston-Salem State University where he earned a B.A. degree in History in 1970. He began his career as a professional educator in Cambridge in 1970, left that work for military service from 1971 to 1973, and returned to the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School where he taught for many years.

In 1971, Leslie married his college sweetheart, Shirley A. Johnson of Virginia, and they became parents to two loving sons, Derrick W. Kimbrough and Laurance V. Kimbrough. He remained a loving and caring father to this pair.

While teaching history, Leslie continued a quiet love for community activity and political action. He was among the founders of The Concerned Black Educators of Cambridge Public Schools. His efforts gave life to the Oneisumus Project (researching and developing curriculum that reflected the diverse student body at CRLS). Further still, he served on the board of the Cambridge Algebra Project before it became a national program model and worked with younger students at the W.E.B. DuBois Academy. He was involved with several other community organizations in service to students of all ages.

Kimbrough was a recipient of the 1993 Conant Fellowship that supported graduate study at Harvard University School of Education; other awards were conferred such as The Harriet Wigfall Award for Community Service, and The Peace and Justice Award. In April 2002 he received the Education Award from the Massachusetts Black Legislative Caucus for his contributions to the children of Cambridge Public Schools.

Mr. Kimbrough, as most students and many adult friends called him, was an activist throughout his life. Each student he encountered depended on him as active listener, advocate, and guide for many of their educational and personal concerns. At the end of 34 years of service in public education Leslie continued volunteer efforts to students, schools, and the community.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Kimbrough.

Leslie is survived by his mother, Ms. Doris Kimbrough, six brothers: Bobby (Viola) Kimbrough, Sr., Lawrence Brown, Alford Lee (Virginia) Kimbrough, Michael (Gloria) Kimbrough, Kayyum (Bernice) Muhammad Allah, Landis (Cleo) Kimbrough, and two sisters; Doris (Theodore) Evans, and Denise (Larry) Gillis.

Homegoing services will be held at 10:30am Saturday, May 5, 2012 at St. Paul AME Church, Cambridge, MA. The family visitation will be held from 8:30am until 10:30am on Saturday at the Church. A.J. Spears Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements