Willie J. Colbert Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life and spirit of WILLIAM JAMES COLBERT, affectionately known as Junior who was born on April 23,1958 in Augusta, Georgia to the late Willie James Smith (Smitty) and Mary Louise Colbert. Willie departed this life on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 in his home in Baltimore, Maryland. Willie relocated to Brooklyn, NY as a teenager where he graduated from high school, entered the United States Army Reserve and eventually signed up for full time duty. During his time in the military, he travelled to countries like Germany, Japan, Hawaii, and Panama where he studied to be a Telecommunication Specialist. Upon his retirement from the military, he relocated back to Brooklyn where he re-entered the work force as a Telecommunication Specialist for Locate. A year later he received the best opportunity that the U.S. Army equipped him to do, Willie took on a position as a Senior Specialist at Winstar where he thrived. He was like Superman, taking elevators and then climbing to the very top of NY Cities tallest buildings like 1 World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, and the New York Stock Exchange; installing microwave antennas and transmitters. He did so well there that the company provided him with a personal van, beepers (aka) Pager, Blackberry, old Motorola cell flip phone and computer monitors before they became popular. During his spare time, he enjoyed watching movies, playing video games, going to his favorite store Blockbuster and eating popcorn. Willie was a family-oriented person and was so excited to welcome his daughter Jazmin into the Colbert family in 1992. He was also a devoted stepfather to Brian, Franco and Shayrika. Willie enjoyed traveling to Augusta, Georgia to spend time with his family especially his late Aunt Lilly Mae, Uncle Charles, late Uncle Junior, his sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was also very devoted to his stepmother Ernestine and would travel to see her often. She was by his side every step of the way during his life's journey. Willie leaves to cherish his memories and continue his legacy, his daughter Jazmin Colbert, stepson Brian Sanders; their mother Lorraine Sanders, stepson Franco Whitherspoon , stepdaughter Shayrika Chenault; their mother Etta Colbert. His siblings: Eric Smith, Kearsten Smith, Sharon Smith, Atheia Turner, Ruby Davis, Barbara Shaw, Mary Davis, Valerie McDew (Puddin); Stepmother Ernestine, Stepsisters Vanessa Grant-Seabrooks, Tonya Grant, Stepbrothers Perry Grant and Kevin Grant ; Uncle Charles, 6 Grandchildren and a host of family and friends.

Tributes

Willie J. Colbert

April 23, 1958 - July 5, 2022