It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our brother, David Bennie Colbert on Thursday, May 9th, 2013. David was the victim of an assault on Wednesday, May 8th in Gastonia, North Carolina which later claimed his life. David was only 49 years old. Born in Detroit, Michigan on February 22nd, 1964, David graduated from Renaissance High School, attended the Center For Creative Studies, Oakland University and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. David was a self-taught artist who went on to earn an academic scholarship to the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. He was an Honors Student at the University of Michigan majoring in Political Science and History. Quite simply, David was an accomplished scholar, thinker, and writer. David also had a great love for music, especially the Beatles and John Lennon. His international sense of humor spanned from the BBC's Monty Python and Benny Hill, to M*A*S*H. He loved books and the places they could take him. As such, he lived 5 of the past 7 years in Berlin, Germany. Once arriving back in the states, he reunited with a high school sweetheart, Susan Willis from Detroit in Gastonia, North Carolina. After a brief engagement, David and Susan married. As you remember David, think about the complex, loving, principled and loyal person that he was. David loved God, loved his family, loved kids, loved books, and loved his hometown of Detroit. If you want to honor his memory today or some time in the future, do something to help shelter, feed, or educate a child in your community. David is survived by his wife, Susan Colbert of Gastonia, NC., his brothers Tony Wells of San Diego, Ca., Ronald Colbert of Detroit, Mi., Donald Colbert of Atlanta, GA., Andrew Colbert of Fort Washington, MD., and Bobby Colbert of Seattle, WA., numerous sister-in-laws, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. David will be cremated in a private ceremony in Gastonia, North Carolina. His ashes will be interned at their final resting place in Detroit, Michigan.