Ronald Colbert, 71 passed Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Public viewing will be held Thursday, July 13, 2023 from 2:00 p.m. ~ 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 13, 2023 at Perry Spencer Funeral Home, Eden, NC. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. ~ 1:00 p.m., Friday, July 14, 2023 at St. John United Methodist Church, Eden, N.C. with the funeral service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Ridge-View Cemetery, Eden, NC.

God blessed His world and the union of the late John L. Colbert and Ella Mae Gibson (Colbert-Parker) with the arrival of Ronald Colbert on September 21, 1951.

On Tuesday, July 4, 2023, Ronald walked into the loving and waiting arms of the Lord he loved and served with all his heart.

“Ron/Ronnie” as he was affectionately known by family and friends, was born in Detroit, Michigan, as the eldest of the two Colbert children.

Ron matriculated through the Detroit Public Schools, graduating from Charles F. Kettering Sr. High School in 1969. He entered the United States Army Armed Forces in 1971, where he served as a paratrooper; honorably discharged in 1977 with the rank of Specialist. He continued his educational studies at Henry Ford Community College and Wayne State University, in the county of Wayne, Detroit, Michigan. Ron engaged in multiple entrepreneurial ventures, beginning with a billiards hall and boxing facility in Detroit MI, prior to relocating to North Carolina, where his business savvy continued with a record store in downtown Eden, NC. As a native of the Motor City, the automotive capitol of the world, Ron embodied his knowledge of cars and shared it where he was employed majority of his career in the automotive industry as an Auto Sales Representative at Smith-Stokes Inc, Reidsville, NC. During the Great Recession of 2008-2009, Ron became a certified North Carolina driving instructor for Rockingham County Consolidated Schools, as well as a Train Car Host for Amtrak. As we can clearly see, his mechanical mind and forward thinking manifested in every aspect of his influential endeavors and the unapologetic life that he so truly lived.

In life, one can only hope to find their soulmate, which is exactly what Ron did when he met his Margaret at a party on the military base of Fort Bragg located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Ron married the love of his life, Margaret Broadnax-Colbert. They were blessed with one daughter, Tammara, who was the apple of his eye. He was a loving husband, devoted father not only to his child, but his God given children and grandchildren.

Ron was a lover of people and enjoyed life to the fullest. He had an infectious personality and never met a stranger. He was well-versed in cultural topics, ministry, as a businessperson, a giver, a comedian in his own right, and a sports fanatic. In his leisure, Ron enjoyed attending sporting events, music festivals and reading. You could always find someone looking for him for safe refuge. His hand on your shoulder, or a kind word was all it took to make you feel protected and motivated to keep moving forward. Often sharing life lessons, Ron always gave great wisdom.

Ron was a member of St. John United Methodist Church located in Eden, NC, where he served faithfully as an attending member and major supporter of the church in the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A certified lay-speaker, former Chair of Administrative Board, Trustee, Gospel Choir, Outreach & Witness Committee, Male Choir, active member of the United Methodist Men and Finance Committee Member. Ron was moved by God’s love for him. God’s perfect love was an inspiration for Ron to love others in the same way.

Ron was preceded in death by his stepfather, Horace Parker, and sister Mabel Parker. He leaves to cherish the spirit of his love and memory: his wife, Margaret Broadnax-Colbert; daughter, Tammara Broadnax; God-given daughters, Danyel Harris (Detroit, MI), Patricia Neal (Reidsville, NC), God-given grandsons Otto Delano Harris IV (Detroit, MI), Samuel Youse III (Reidsville, NC); Sister, Inell Parker (Detroit, MI); brother, Elder Darnell Colbert (Cleveland, OH), two sisters-in-law: Annie Corbett (Fort Walton Beach, FL), Linda (Steve) Richardson (Jacksonville, FL); two brothers-in-law: Jerry Broadnax (Eden, NC), Timothy Broadnax (Eden, NC), god-brother: Elder Donald Dupree (Cleveland, OH); aunt: Doris Gibson (Macon, GA); special cousins: Aretha (Terry) Taylor (Decatur, GA); Glenda (Walter) Fallings (Roberta, GA), Yvonne Gibson (Macon, GA), Denise (Dexter) Gibson-Brewer (Roberta, GA); god-daughter: JaNyah Martin (Greensboro, NC). Also mourned by: Monteece Clark, Dakota Robinson, India Robinson, Nathaniel Millner, Tena McNeil, Renee Dillard, Miranda Dalton, LaTasha Dalton, Brenda Finney, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.