On Monday, May 4, 2026, at age 85, Bobby Ray Coker was called home by Jesus after a short few months of a courageous fight against heart failure. He was born on November 24, 1940 in Fountain, NC and was preceded in death by his mother and father, Joe and Cassie Mae Coker.

The family will receive friends and family on Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 1pm until 2 pm at the Trinity Baptist Church, Tarboro, with a Celebration of Bobby's life being held at the church starting at 2 PM. The interment will follow in the Edgecombe Memorial Park.

Bobby is survived by his devoted wife, Brenda of 56 years and his beloved daughter, Leigh Ann Webb (Jimmy) of Elm City, NC and his treasured grandsons, Caleb Webb (Paitin) and Jonathan Webb (Angelina). He is also survived by his much loved first cousins, Angela Sutton (Wayne), Sallie Denny (Ricky), Rebecca Coker and Naomi Coker. He is also survived by his loved in laws, C.G. Forbes (Annette), Marsha Harris (Jesse), and Patricia League (Frank), as well as many nieces and nephews.

Bobby was a proud veteran of the US Air Force and a dedicated member of Autrey’s Creek Primitive Baptist Church where he served as Deacon. He had a strong work ethic and spent his life doing jobs that he truly enjoyed. He was a TV repairman for Marrow-Pitt Hardware and TV Video and Appliance, a radio announcer and radio transmitter engineer for WKTC Katie Country, and he owned his own floor buffing business which led to becoming the custodian for numerous churches in town. His most recent job that held up until January of this year at 85 years of age was for Trinity Baptist Church where he felt it was an honor to serve in the Lord’s house for 37 years and where he spent time forming deep bonds and lasting friendships with numerous former pastors, church employees and members of the congregation.

Bobby will always be remembered by his family for his mischievous smile, his humor, his gentle spirit, his unconditional love and his strong faith. His friends and those he worked with will miss his kindness, his ever-listening ear and his willingness to always lend a helping hand. He touched the lives of everyone he met, and no one will ever be able to take his place in our hearts.

The family would like to give a special thank you to his caregiver of the past few weeks, Ne’Asha Pettaway and all those who tended to him through Gentive Hospice of Tarboro.

Flowers are welcome but donations can be made to Operation Christmas Child at Trinity Baptist Church, 730 West Wilson Street Tarboro, NC or the ECPS Educational Foundation which supports scholarships for future teachers of Edgecombe County.