Barrier Breaker: Farrell Duncombe

The Reverend Farrell Duncombe was inspired by one of the greatest of all barrier breakers, Rosa Parks. Ms. Parks was his childhood Sunday school teacher. Duncombe vividly remembers her as the “den mother” who walked him and his friends to church for Junior NAACP meetings.  

Years later, a grown-up Duncombe, then principal of Montgomery’s Sidney Lanier High School, asked Ms. Parks to visit the school and address his students. In true barrier breaker fashion, the topic of her speech was refusing to let obstacles keep you down.   

“It was like the children had seen Jesus,” Duncombe says. “I had tears in my eyes. It was a high moment in my life.”

Like his role model, Duncombe was never afraid to stand up for equality. He broke his first barrier in 1970, when he was named the first African American band director at newly desegregated Lanier High School. It was a violent, tumultuous time in the Deep South; for his entire first year on the job, Duncombe was accompanied by a bodyguard. He was subjected to everything from name calling to death threats, but nothing could deter Duncombe from his goal, which was not only to lead the band, but also to unify the diverse school community.

“There was a question as to what kind of music this newly integrated band would play. The students were very receptive. None of them quit because of my color – I think they were too curious to see what I would do to leave. Once we began working together and exchanged ideas, we were a very solidified group.”

Duncombe served as Lanier’s band director for 14 years before moving into leadership and administrative positions at other Alabama schools, eventually returning to Lanier as principal.

Today, Duncombe is the pastor of First Congregational Christian Church and the former pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Montgomery. When his credit union, Tri-Rivers Federal Credit Union, merged with Hope Credit Union in 2017, Duncombe became a HOPE member and eventually joined the Hope Credit Union board of directors. His work with HOPE may not require bodyguards, but Duncombe sees it as a continuation of the barrier breaking of an earlier era.

“I see a correlation between the Civil Rights Movement and the challenges HOPE addresses today. When we talk about justice and equality, no matter what the goal, economics will be involved,” Duncombe says. “HOPE not only understands that, they are an organization that cares. They are sensitive to the needs of the people they serve. People facing economic barriers need hope and that is what HOPE gives them.”