Herbert Coulton Sr. was a lifelong resident of Petersburg and member of First Baptist Church on Harrison Street, the oldest black congregation in America. Coulton served as the Chairman of the Trustee Board, member of the Male Chorus, Cathedral Choir, and charter member of the James H. Threatt Memorial Men’s Club and several other organizations within the church.
Herbertt Coulton graduated from the Peabody Class of 1951. After attending Virginia State College, he served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959. He was employed by Central State Hospital until he received the call from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. appointing him as the Field Director of the South East Region of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. During his years with the SCLC, Herbert led many voter registration events throughout Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.