Mr. Ronald Allen Gillespie, known as “P-Funk,” was born in Statesville, N.C., on April 1, 1957, and was the son of the late Aleece B. Gillespie and Franklin Roosevelt Gillespie. He departed this life on March 14, 2024, in Kissimee, Fla.

He was employed by ABT Incorporated and William T. Burnett. He attended the Iredell County School system, and his hobbies included listening to Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Hendrix, and Bob Marley. P-Funk was full of life and his favorite slogans were, “Ain’t nothing cute but monkeys and babies” and “Burn the strip up.”

In addition to his father and mother, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Millie Bailey and Charlie Bailey; and brother, Franklin “Dankey” Bailey.

He leaves to cherish the memory of his life his brothers, Charles (Joni) Bailey and Wayne (Nejla) Gillespie; sisters, Linda (Jerry) Feimster, Alice (George) Sturghill, Regina (Steve) Turner, and Cynthia (Dennis) Pemberton; nieces, Crystal (Jimmy) Steele and Candace (Deterrion) Wiley; nephews, J. T. Bailey, Travis (Angie) Williams, Chris (Hope) Gillespie, Jermel (April) Gillespie, Charles “Boss” Gillespie, and Sean Gillespie, special friend, Ricky Stovall; and Eddy Lackey.

Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Indwelling Spirit Missionary Baptist Church at 3 p.m.

Rutledge & Bigham Funeral Home is serving the family.