Wilborn’s professional life of 30 years in the Beaufort County public schools precisely overlays the long and painful demise of what was that separate-but-equal lie. A quick flip through history shows how unequal the schools were. When he took his first job in Bluffton, the school for blacks went only through the 10th grade. White kids had 12 grades. Black teachers had lesser certification requirements. Black students had fewer school days. For decades, if black students wanted to go beyond elementary school, they had to pack up and leave home. In 1927, South Carolina had 279 high schools for whites and only 10 for blacks.
He was deeply involved in community affairs and institutions, helping bridge the gap between newcomers and native islanders. The long list of his contributions aired at the time of his death on June 23 at the age of 93 was surprising, even for a man inducted into two halls of fame. But at his core, Isaac Wilborn bore his special burden by recognizing the best in everyone.