Chicita Frances Culberson

Chicita Frances Culberson, age 91, died at Croasdaile Village on March 5, 2023. She was born on November 1, 1931, to the late Dr. Frank A. Forman and Frances E. Cieman.

Chicita graduated from Duke University with a Ph.D. in chemistry. She had a distinguished career as a lichen chemist at the Biology Department at Duke University, alongside her husband, who was a professor of botany and former Director of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. She analyzed thousands of lichen specimens for the Duke Herbarium, as well as for colleagues around the world. She was the author of many scientific papers on lichen chemistry, as well as a highly recognized text on the subject, which is still frequently cited.

Chicita is survived by her nephew, Seth Forman, of Guam, and two nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Louis Culberson, in 2003.

A memorial reception will be held for her later this spring.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or to the UNC Botanical Garden.