Obituary of Ruby Jean Hill Colbert
Ruby Jean Hill Colbert, born the 20th of April 1939 in Hardaway, Alabama to the late Charlie Hill Sr. and Milobelia Perry Hill; the 7th oldest and the 7th youngest offspring to this union, departed this life Thursday March 19, 2020.
Ruby, named after one of Gods’, naturally pressed precious gems under the birthstone of a diamond sparkled from multiple facets in her life, just as a diamond sparkles from every glance.
Some of Ruby’s diamond-like traits that shined with brilliance as she was ‘walking in the light’ include her: educational endeavors, Gospel Ministries, community and neighborhood involvements, and deep connections with friends and family.
This Gems educational foundation started in Shorter, Alabama, at the Damascus Elementary School inside the Decamus Baptist Church, then onto Prairie Farms and D.C. Wolfe Middle School, through Ninth grade, before moving to New Jersey and graduating from Freehold Boro High School with the class of 1957.
Her Gospel ministries include being a trustee board member, an usher board member, a missionary worker, President of Pastor Aid committee, willing worker with kitchen committee, deaconess, choir member, and choir director. She loved working for the Lord in and around the church; her church ministries, specifically her astounding God-Blessed singing voice. She received professional tutelage offerings from the famed Gospel artist Mahalia Jackson at the tender age of Seven while singing with the Damascus church choir. Her continued growth in the music ministry has humbly elevated her to sing over 70 years for Former President Barrack Obama and Former Governor James McGreevey on multiple occasions, and with mass choirs such as “The District Choir” and “Seacoast Choir”, along with a multitude of Solo appearances throughout New Jersey, Alabama, Texas, Florida, and Georgia upon request for musical programs and funerals all to hear Ruby, this dixie hummingbird’s natural voice, while continuing to shine bright as a diamond by sharing her God-anointed talent.
Ruby continues to shine as she stayed connected with the community by being an advocate for the community at town meeting and working the polls during presidential, gubernatorial, and county elections in support of the greater community. She also attended board association meeting in her neighborhood communal family. Ruby was also a paid-up, lifetime member of the Eastern Stars
Another gem-like feature is her love of friends. Ruby loved spending time with friends whether in church, going to Broadway shows or to the movies, traveling to Atlantic City and Parx Casinos, or dining out, or just cooking and entertaining at home. She was an advent culinary artist, and infamously known for her pound cake, potato salad, and salmon croquettes.
Ruby’s brightest illumination is her family. With all her involvement as well as care of everything and everyone else, her delight in life was her family. Family meant everything to her; from her siblings to her nieces and nephews, foster children, adopted children, God children, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ruby loved her family dearly, and leaves an exemplary model to mimic and follow for the rest of their lives. The manner of how one should fundamentally treat one another with love, honesty, respect, and kindness despite all else, as family is forever.
Ruby is predeceased by her late husband George C. Colbert; son Michael; Daughter Dawna Jean; Five Brothers; George, John, Curtis, Herman, and Perry; Three sisters Thelma Ellington, Missie Howard, and Loretta Hayes.
Surviving are Five brothers: Charlie Jr. (Lois) Farmingdale, NJ, Carl Winston Freehold, NJ, Douglas (Verita) Neptune, NJ, Jack Neptune, NJ, Larry (Jean) Neptune, NJ; One sister Sara Johnson Newark, NJ; Children: Audrey LaVerne (Brian) Evans Freehold, NJ, Herman Sr. (Rachel) Freehold, NJ, 9 grandchildren Daria (James) Carter Freehold, NJ, Jared Colbert Freehold, NJ, Alex (Daniela) Toms River, NJ, Khalayah, Alexis, Jada, Jasmine, Herman Jr., and Mikayla Freehold, NJ; 3 great-grandchildren Kimora Syrai, DeKari James, Layla Rayne of Freehold, NJ; host of nieces, nephews, god-children (Lisa Mitchell Swift, Dawn McFarland, Barbara Richardson, Aisha Hill Garrett), cousins, and friends (especially Lucy Harvey Mitchell Schenck).
