Linda Arnette Carroll-Colbert

Visitation for Linda Colbert will be held from 12:00 PM to 2:00 p.m. on Monday July 6, 2020 and the funeral service will start at 2:00 p.m. These services will be recorded and Streamed Live starting at 1:00 p.m. during the last hour of visitation. In the event the service is interrupted at any time due to technical issues, the entire service will be uploaded and available for viewing on this same link later in the day. Please copy and paste the link to share, or simply click on the link to view the services https://vimeo.com/434529291 It was on this day July 6th in the summer of 1947 and something amazing happened. Linda Arnette, a robust baby girl was born at seven pounds and seven ounces at St. Johns’ Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Proud parents Queen Esther and Angus Carroll were more than excited to welcome their first-born child whose 73rd birthday would have been today. Instead today we celebrate Linda’s home going, to be with her parents who proceeded her in death. Linda surrendered to be with the ancestors on Friday June 26, 2020. Daughter Chloe and sister Anita Lorraine watched as she opened her eyes, looked up to heaven and shrugged her shoulders as if to say READY, and took her last breath at 8:12 pm at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Ironically, she waited until we played Tamela Mann's "Take Me to the King" and transitioned within 45 seconds of the song being played. Linda grew up in Brooklyn and Queens NY. During her early years in Brooklyn Linda led a full and happy childhood. She attended Concord Baptist Church where she was baptized by “the dean of American preaching” Garner C. Taylor. She attended New York City Public Schools where she excelled and received many commendations. She forged close friendships during those years that would last throughout her life. When Linda was 11, she joined with nine other girls and formed a social club. The name search for this newly formed group would have special meaning for Linda. They decided on the name “Ebony Queens”. Linda felt the name reflected their Black culture. At a young age she was a proud black teen that understood the Struggle; a catalyst which was later instrumental in molding Linda’s social justice work and activism. After 60 years the Ebony Queens remain close friends and eight are alive; five are here today including Linda’s spirit. Linda would say, “Black people have been catching a hard time for too long.” In the early 60’s Linda begged her parents to let her ride one of the Freedom Buses to the South. She and one of her friends Cheryl Robinson (now deceased Ebony Queen) left for 125 street in Harlem to board a bus and head South. But the bus never came. Linda’s parents were relieved; she was only 16 years old. At age 18 Linda’s character continued to blossom. She had developed a way with words, an even more vibrant personality and commanded center stage and an audience wherever she went. She had a lively spirit that was contagious and so was her smile. She loved people and later in her adult life many people stayed in her home when they had no place to live. She was encouraging, gave people hope and always made you laugh. She graduated from Central Commercial High School in 1965 and immediately enrolled in Queensboro College and, went to work as a secretary at Chemical Bank’s United Nations branch office. She used her love of the French language to land her a spot at this prestigious United Nations location. Working in this environment gave her an opportunity to story tell and interact with an international audience. In the winter of 1966 Linda went to work for the National Urban League as an administrative assistant and trainer under the tutelage of Whitney Young and Vernon Jordan. In 1977 she relocated to Atlanta, Ga. where she continued to work for the Urban League in its Southern Regional Office. Linda was excited to work for the “Movement”. She had heard many stories of inequity told around the dinner table by her father Angus. He often spoke of Black folk’s plight and the epic story of America’s great migration including his own story of how at age 13 he left South Carolina with a family of Arabs on a watermelon truck. Her passion for the “Movement” was further influenced by first hand experiences of discrimination. During family car trips to Louisiana and Mississippi she saw “colored only” bathrooms and water fountains. She vividly remembered having to eat potted meat and crackers on the side of the road while fighting off the nits; Black folk could not eat in white restaurants back then. The family had a 1956 blue Mercury Monterey, and, on the road, it provided a haven for family needs on those long journeys. Linda poured her passion into her work. She excelled quickly at the League and in 1973 was asked to attend the National Urban League’s annual board retreat in Tarrytown, NY where she was responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting; she was an exceptional stenographer. She had an opportunity to interact with the Leagues’ board members which was comprised of more than 50 corporate CEOs. The day ended with Linda having a gin martini and holding her own with Nelson Rockefeller, then governor of New York and his wife Happy; Linda was a cool 26-year old. In 1977, Linda met Ray A. Colbert and they married and had one daughter Chloe. The two purchased what Linda considered to be her dream home that she imagined as a young girl in the Marcy projects. Many precious memories were made at 4285 Pleasant Ridge Road. Linda spent years being the 'hostess with the mostest' entertaining friends and family, bringing laughs, love, and smiles to all that she came across. Until her last days she acted as the family historian, she kept up with family history on both her and her late husband’s side of the family, often being told she had the mind of an elephant able to recall memories with such vivid accuracy. Linda loved to dance, liked all kinds of music, and often said in her past life she was a Blues singer that died incredibly young. I am sure y’all heard her rendition of SUMMERTIME. She sang it all the time to make you happy. She sang it to break the ice and she sang it to the little people at John Hope Elementary School where she served as the school registrar and secretary for many years. Cooking and enjoying food from a variety of cultures was a favorite of hers. She could describe the differences in a cake recipe based on taste and knew the right ingredients to achieve the best cake grain possible. In the early 2000’s Linda changed careers and became a foster parent. It is here where paths crossed, and she met a fine young man Ricky Lamar Nixon. Linda was putting her energy into helping young people and it paid off. Her baby Ricky is here today and in his own words, “JOB WELL DONE auntie. She taught me everything, even how to iron my clothes. “She considered him both her son and grandson and often spoke of how good of a heart he has as well as the hope that her love and influence was enough for him to succeed in life. Prior to meeting Ricky, she formed a deep bond with one of her fosters Naomi Smith. Although their time together was brief, Linda grew rather fond and attached to young Naomi and wished that she, was able to keep her longer. Despite the years and distance between them, their bond nor love never lessened and until her last hours of life both Ricky and Naomi were able to express their love and gratitude to the only mother they acknowledged as their own holding her hand at the hospital and letting her know they loved and appreciated her love, her kindness, and her patience with them. During the last 2 months of her life God gave Linda and granddaughter Samone the time they needed to grow and bond. As Linda's illness progressed her granddaughter went to stay with her so that she could help her beloved 'Nani'. Because of the pandemic, many of life's daily distractions no longer existed and the two were able to strengthen their bond and get to know each other on an entirely different level. Despite being ill, Linda was overjoyed that her one and only granddaughter came to stay with her and care for her. She was beyond proud of the woman that her granddaughter had come to be! Linda leaves to continue her legacy of love her pride and joy Chloe Colbert (David Moore) and granddaughter Samone Moore. Brother Wayne Adams (Doris) of California, confidant and sister Anita Lorraine Green and nephew Corey James of Marietta, Ga. and grandnephew Christopher Simpson of Chicago, best friends Betty Wigfall, Dolly Dudley, Jackie Moore, Evylon Harris, Emma Roberson, Shirley Sanford Burns, and the Ebony Queens (Beverly Butler, Linda Pharr, Sidney Ryals, Yvette Pharr, Lillian Morrison, Connie Foreman, Beverly Brown and Anita Green) a multitude of relatives and dear friends. See you on the other side Linda. May peace and paradise be with you until we meet again. Visitation and Funeral Services for Linda Colbert will be held beginning 1:00PM on Monday July 6, 2020. These services will be recorded and Streamed Live. In the event the service is interrupted at any time due to technical issues, the entire service will be uploaded and available for viewing on this same link later in the day. https://vimeo.com/434529291

Tributes

Linda Arnette Carroll-Colbert

July 6, 1947 - June 26, 2020