Obituary of Lacy Ronald Brunson, Sr.
Lacy “Ronald” Brunson, Sr. was born in Plainfield, NJ on September 24, 1964. He transitioned into eternal glory on October 9, 2023, just two weeks after his 59th birthday.
Ronald was the firstborn of Deacon Lacy and Deaconess Pauline Brunson. Ronald grew up in Plainfield and loved the “Queen City”. He attended Plainfield Public Schools. From an early age, Ronald was known to be a talker. Almost every report card he had from elementary to middle school, noted that Ronald was quite the talker even when the lessons were being presented. As a child, he had a love for music and football. He played pop neighborhood football and eventually played football during his high school years. During his childhood, he attended church, enjoyed his neighborhood friends, traveled with his parents to the Gordon family reunions, and hung out with his cousins. The crew consisted of the brother-cousins Carnell and Ryan and the sister-cousins Karen “Chippy”, Doreen “Bunny”, Michele, and Rudette. He graduated from Plainfield High School in 1982.
After high school, Ronald attended Diesel Mechanic School, following the steps of his father. Although attending, this wasn’t the type of work Ronald wanted. He wanted to be a DJ because he had the record collection for it. During his young adult years, Ronald was an avid bodybuilder with aspirations of moving to Muscle Beach in Venice, CA. However, while working outside one day, Ronald injured his leg, and he was no longer able to lift.
His football playing and bodybuilding had a lasting effect on his younger brothers, Dwight and Brock. Ronald and Dwight were only two years apart, so they built their childhood together. Although Brock was younger, he built his own relationship with Ronald with the shared love of wrestling. Ronald was generous and loved his family, singing, laughing, and witnessing about Jesus.
Ronald loved his family. He wasn’t shy about saying what he loved. Ronald was the proud father of two sons, Lacy, Jr. “Little Ronald” and Brodrick, and one girl named after his mother Pauline. He always said, “I love my kids.” He often spoke about how proud he was of them. Lacy is the preacher and musician. Pauline is a businesswoman and entrepreneur. Brodrick is a fitness guru and influencer. Ronald often praised the mother of his children Barbara for being a good mother to all his children. From his sons, he became a proud grandfather “Pop-Pop”. His legacy lives on in his 10 grandchildren: Faith, Mishell, Adonie, Laniyah, Brysen, Nia, Noelle, Aria, and Jayla with two more on the way. He loved his nieces and nephews too. He often sent them texts to check up on them.
Ronald loved to sing. During his life, he attended four churches and sang at them all. As a young child, his parents were members of the Church of the Living God in Fanwood, NJ where the pastor was Rev. Arthur Warren. His parents moved their membership to Zion Holy Church, Newark, NJ under Bishop Leonard R. Williams in 1975. In 2002 after being away from Zion, he returned and re-established his membership. In addition, to leading the praise and worship team, he was appointed as a church trustee under the leadership of Elder Clarence Wright. In 2009, he joined Covenant Community Church, Suffolk, VA under Pastor Harold McPherson. Ronald, along with his then-wife, Vikki were active members. Ronald is remembered for his song, “He’s Able” that he led on the praise team. In 2013, Ronald relocated back to Plainfield, NJ, and joined Visions of God Worship Family Center under the pastorate of Pastor Paul Dean. Ronald could often be heard singing all day around the house, in the car, walking along, on the phone.
Ronald loved to make you laugh. He just had a love for making people laugh whether it was in the home, neighborhood, church, community, or on the job. Ronald’s co-workers from National Starch where he worked for 14 years shared stories of Ronnie Ron and how he kept them laughing. His co-workers at Kings Furniture, Landscaping Co., KFC, Shop n Stop, and Printing Company would all say the same. Spending the last years living with his parents, he would often have his mother in tears and his father fighting to hold back the laughter. His laugh had a way of bringing joy into any situation.
Ronald loved to witness about Jesus Christ. He loved all people. He never discriminated against anyone and he would talk to everyone. After he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior in 2002, he was on a mission to share his experience with anyone he met. He wanted them to know that a God loves and cares for them and wants to come into their heart. He changed his way of thinking and living. He would witness everywhere he went. He would quote John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes on him should not perish but have everlasting life”. Ronald, you gained everlasting life, so rest on our brother, father, uncle, grandfather, cousin, nephew, and friend.
Ronald was preceded in death by his parents Lacy and Pauline Brunson and grandson Ian Brunson. He leaves to cherish his memory, children Lacy R. Brunson, Jr. (Antayia) of San Antonio, TX, Pauline (Mark Rivera), Smyrna, DE, Broderick (Maria), Perth Amboy, NJ; brothers Dwight Brunson (Laura) of Plainfield NJ and Brock N. Brunson, Sr. (Dawn) of Edison, NJ; 10 grandchildren; Nieces and Nephews Brock Jr., Dwight Alpha, Jordan, Riley; longtime friends Rodney Logan, Mark Hicks, Norman Miller, specials aunts Alice Kelly and Laura Jane Youmans and uncles Herbert Gordon, Joe Kelly and Randolph Lewis and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends..
