Alonza James Colvin

Mr. Alonza James Colvin, affectionately known as "Jim", was born on July 8, 1931, in Union Springs, Alabama, to Allen and Gertrude Colvin. As a teenager, he moved to Columbus, Georgia, with his brother Coleman and later followed his brother Robert to Saginaw, Michigan. In Saginaw, Jim found a career at General Motors, where he worked for over 20 years. In 1951, Jim married Billie Jean Culver, and there were five children from this union. Jim later married Charlene Ann Bacon in 1971, and together they had one child.

He developed many professional interests, including starting the Valley Star Newspaper, where he served as editor. Jim also created the Miss Autumn Leaves pageant to encourage and celebrate diverse contestants. He served as a Buena Vista Township Trustee for many years. In that capacity, he was able to develop many local, state, and national partnerships to serve the community where he lived for over 50 years. Jim served as the Saginaw Director of the Federal Model Cities Project, and in connection with the newspaper, he was a member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. He was also an avid outdoorsman and loved gardening, hunting, fishing, and golfing.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Gertrude, his siblings Coleman Colvin, Robert Colvin, Alto Colvin, Will Tom Colvin, Bennie Colvin, Alma Parker, Peggy Crenshaw, Annie Maude Pierrie, and Betty Colvin. Sons James Edward Colvin and Chris Colvin, son-in-law Frank Earl Webb, and sister-in-law Barbara Faye Bacon also predeceased him.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 54 years Charlene; daughters Judy Colvin Webb (Saginaw, Michigan), Elizabeth (Herb) Buckley (Romulus, Michigan); sons, Mark Colvin (Saginaw, Michigan) and Jimmie Colvin (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida); grandchildren, Tinene Colvin (Saginaw, Michigan), Ayanna (Eric) Reynolds (Atlanta, Georgia), Herb II and Alexis Buckley (Romulus, Michigan) , Sean Alonza Colvin (Bessemer, Alabama); great-grandchildren, Ashley Jackson (Atlanta, Georgia), Fred'l Alonza Jackson (Indianapolis, Indian), Arynn and Gerard Reynolds (Atlanta, Georgia) and Chariay Loperena (Saginaw, Michigan). He is also survived by his 5th generation great-great granddaughter, Ava Nicole Wilcher (Atlanta, Georgia). Jim also leaves a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.