The corner of East 14th Street and Liberty Street is now named after a man whose legacy lives on in the hearts of those he served for decades.
A new street sign dedicated to the late Raymond P. Gamble, a long-time funeral director and owner of Gamble Funeral Home, was unveiled on Thursday. The sign reads “Honorary Raymond P. Gamble Way” and is located near his business, which he established in 1987.
Family members and members of the community gathered for the dedication, reflecting on the life and impact of a man who they described as selfless.
“My father left a legacy. My father cherished the community. He had an impact in the community. “He adored his people,” said his daughter, Angelique Colbert. “With that being said, today is a big deal. And to be able to honor my father with a street name is mind-blowing.”
Colbert believes her father would be proud of the recognition.
“All I can say is my daddy is really looking down and he is so proud of everybody, including his staff, including his family, especially his wife, because she has just stepped up and she took off with it,” she told me. “I’m so thankful to be a part of this family.”
Gamble’s wife, Angela Gamble, described him as a tireless servant of others.
“Raymond was a dedicated, hardworking, big-hearted giant is what he was,” according to her. “He put others ahead of himself; he loved. He was the type of person who would be there for you at any time of day or night.
She believes her husband would have been humbled by the gesture.
“Well, the first thing he would have said is, ‘No, we’re not doing this.'” “He was very humble,” she explained. “So doing this to him, honoring him, would have been completely something I would have done, and he would have said, ‘No, I don’t deserve this. And, in fact, he does deserve it. He was the clear winner, and he deserved it. But he would be happy, and I believe he is happy today.
Raymond Gamble, born in Christian County in 1951, was a member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Olmstead. After graduating from the Kentucky Mortuary of Science in 1972, he worked at Babbage Funeral Home before establishing Gamble Funeral Home in Hopkinsville.
Even after opening his own funeral home, he continued to provide embalming services to others in the area.
He died in 2019, at the age of 68.
His children say the sign is more than just a tribute; it’s a permanent reminder of his quiet generosity and love for others.
“I mean, honestly, it means a lot,” his son De’Airion Bronaugh stated. “He was someone who, as you can see, genuinely cared about the community. The community genuinely cared about him. And he always gave his all in everything he did. And it’s an honor, I can’t deny it.”
It means a lot to have this sign here. “I wish he was here to see it, but I know he is smiling down,” said his daughter, De’Anna Bronaugh. “And he was never a man who wanted to be in the spotlight. He preferred to do everything behind closed doors. It’s good that he’s getting his flowers now.”
In addition to his funeral work, Gamble was known for quietly and consistently assisting others. He received the George S. Dooley Humanitarian Award and the James Quarles Minority Business of the Year Award.
