COLUMBUS — Barbara Jean Strong Malone, 79, died Feb. 2, 2026, at her residence.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Carter’s Funeral Services Chapel. Visitation is from 4-6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Carter’s Funeral Services of Columbus is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Malone was born March 22, 1946, in Columbus, to the late Pearlie Strong and Ira Joe Petty. She was a graduate of R.E. Hunt High School and the University of Michigan. She was formerly employed with the Genesee Public School  and Intermediate School Systems in Flint, Michigan, Crawford/Artesia Head Start, and as a realtor with Coldwell Banker. She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, John Ira Corder; and one grandchild.

She is survived by her children, Arthur Coley, Yvonne Covington and Patricia Miller, all of Columbus, Edward Coley of Nashville, Tennessee, and Shawn Coley of Flint; siblings, Joel Abrams of Auburn, Georgia, Ruthie Armistad, Annette Bradley, Samella Degraffenreid and Minnie Petty, all of Columbus; 15 grandchildren;  and 20 great-grandchildren.