Preston Scarber

Preston Scarber, Sr., was the third of four children born to Henry and Eloise Scarber on April 8, 1942, in Birmingham, Alabama. At the age of eight, he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and joined the Hopewell Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Thomas.
He was educated in the Birmingham City School system. Later, he graduated from Holy Family High School in 1960. Upon finishing high school, both his parents died within one year of each other, but this only strengthened his faith.
Always inquisitive, he then attended Miles College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry in 1964. That same year, he entered the United States Air Force where he served from 1964 to 1967.
Upon completing his tour of duty and being Honorably Discharged, he returned home to Birmingham from his military service. He worked as a Research Chemist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
On August 17, 1969, he united in Holy Matrimony to Annette Allen. For more than 51 years, she was his devoted wife and companion.
In 1971, he earned his Surgeon’s Assistant Degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, becoming the first African American to obtain this honor at the school. From 1971 to 1973, he then worked with Dr. John W. Kirklin, assisting him with numerous intricate open-heart surgeries. In 1973, he began working at the Birmingham Veteran’s Administration Hospital until his retirement in 2003; although, he continued to work part-time unity 2005.
Forever devoted to the will of Christ, he joined the 25th Avenue Baptist Church under the leadership of his late brother, Reverend D.R. Scarber where he served as a Deacon, Choir Member and Choir Director.
In 2000, he joined the Everlasting Covenant Church under the leadership of Reverend Arthur Agee, Jr. where he also served as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, Choir Member and Choir Director. Wherever he was, he always had a “HALLELUJAH!” that he would joyfully exclaim while thinking of the goodness of God. When asked why he was always filled with so much joy, he would reply that God had been to him, “Better than He deserved”. His “HALLEJULAHS” were infectious and everyone around him knew that he LOVED the Lord with everything in his being! He lived his sermons every day and gave all that he encountered immense wisdom! Even with declining health beginning in 2015, with the help of his devoted wife and caregiver, he continued to attend church almost weekly for the next 6.5 years, which is exactly the way he would have wanted it.
On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 9:55 a.m., Preston, Sr. made his transition peacefully at home into the arms of our Heavenly Father. He will be sorely missed, but we will ALWAYS keep his wisdom in our hearts. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Eloise Scarber; brother, Reverend D.R. Scarber; sister, Evelyn Hawkins Chandler and brother-in-law, Arthur Agee, Sr.
He is survived by his wife of 51.5 years, Annette Scarber of Hueytown, AL; sister, Ethel Agee of Birmingham, AL; four children, Dr. Preston Scarber, Jr. of Hueytown, AL, Dr. Jeanine (Carlos) Maclin of Hoover, AL, Christa (Oscar) Garcia of Hueytown, AL and Dr. Reginna (William) Burrell of Muscle Shoals, AL; three grandchildren, Christopher Brown of Hueytown, AL, Jillian Maclin of Hoover, AL and Noel Burrell of Muscle Shoals, AL; goddaughters, Stacey (Greg) Williams of Birmingham, AL and Marquita (Adrian) Robinson of Bessemer, AL and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews, church family, friends and colleagues.