Ruby Smith

Ruby Chapman Smith, 93, passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. Visitation is 12:30-1:45 pm Monday, January 21, 2019 at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon. Services will follow at 2 pm Monday at the funeral home with burial in Crestview Memorial Park in Brandon.

Ruby and her family moved from Newton Mississippi to Jackson Mississippi around 1937. About the same time Ruby and her two sisters Nell and Margie went to live in the Baptist children’s orphanage in Jackson. There she learned to play the piano. One of Ruby’s most memorable moments was when she got to travel on a train to the New Orleans with her two sisters and other residents at the Baptist children’s village. There they all sang live on the radio. When Ruby attended Bailey junior high school in Jackson Mississippi she had to walk over two miles each day to and from school. She had to complete her studies each night in the bathroom as there was not an ample space in her home.  In 1943 Ruby was working at the soda fountain at the Robert E. Lee hotel in Jackson. One afternoon a friend of hers at the hotel told her that a bellhop had his eye on her. At that point she told her friend that she intended to get to know him better.  On May 31, 1943 James Alton Smith asked Ruby out on a date which just so happened to be her 18th birthday. As James walked over to Ruby he asked her “if I told you had a beautiful figure would you hold it against me. “ Two weeks later on June 15, 1943 they traveled to Brandon to get married. James was only 17 years old at that time and stated he was 18. In 1954 they bought their first house on Lynda Street in West Jackson where they raised their five children in a 900 sq.ft home. Ruby and James and their children were members of the Boling Street Methodist church for many years. Ruby never ever had to apply for a job. The jobs came to her because of her beautiful vivacious personality. She last worked with the Mississippi Highway Patrol as a testing clerk where she was the first female testing clerk.

Ruby’s greatest pride in life was her family, her greatest joy was spending time with family and friends. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed entertaining, traveling, evenings at the casino, a nice glass of wine, and a good party. Ruby was very talented and creative. She was an excellent seamstress, gardener, and could literally make a silk purse out of a sow‘s ear. As a child of the depression Ruby learned early to never let anything go to waste. Ruby and James joined the First United Methodist Church of Brandon later in life. One of Ruby’s fondest memories was her Sunday school class and going to lunch with her friends. They called themselves the Four Roses. Later in life her favorite saying was I am not a quitter just a slower downer.

Survivors include her sons, Dennis Smith (Robin) of Jackson and Eddie Smith (Jenny) of Brandon; brother, Joe Hunt (Renate) of Brandon; daughters-in-law, Genia Smith and Barbara Smith; 10 grandchildren and 14 great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Alton Smith; daughter, Phyllis Smith Harris; sons, Gene and Ronnie Smith and grandson, Jason Rogers.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Blake in Flowood and Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland for their care of Ruby and they request memorials to Brandon First United Church, 205 Mary Ann Drive, Brandon, MS 39042 or to your favorite charity.

All of us here have our favorite stories about Mom.  I am honored to speak for the family and share a few of ours.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR DENNIS

On my first day of school at Galloway Elementary, Ronnie and I headed off together, but I quickly found out Ronnie had no intention of waiting for me to catch up with him and his friend.  In minutes, I was alone and scared.  I headed back home, crying and very sad that my big brother had abandoned me.  Mother calmed me down and told me to rest.  After a while she gave me a nickel and said to go to the bus stop on Bailey Avenue, take the bus & get off at the school.  In short Mom fixed the problem and I was all the better for it.

THE DRILL SERGEANT

When Ronnie & I were kids, fairly regularly, Mom would come into the bedroom we shared and bang on pots and pans to wake us up to get ready for school.  It was not a pleasant sound to say the least.  Sometimes, she would even throw water on us!

BELTS AND SWITCHES

When we were 9 or 10 or so, Ronnie and I would often get into fights and Mom would put a stop to it by making us go cut switches across the street where millions of switches lived just, so we would know there was an unlimited number of them.  Sometimes, Mom would delay the switch tactic until Dad came home and he took his belt to us.  If we said “I won’t do it no more “ one time, it surely stretched into dozens of  “I won’t do it no mores!”

THE SALESMAN

One day a traveling salesman came to our house on Lynda St. wanting to sell something to Mom.  She said okay, that’s fine.  But first I want you to pinch off a small piece of that elephant ear plant and chew on it and let me know what you think. He did as he was told and quickly realized he had made a serious mistake. Many of you know that the elephant ear is poisonous and tastes very bitter.  That salesman wasted no time tearing off down the street into the sunset, trying to get rid of that awful taste.

THE NAME CHANGE

Always a resourceful homemaker, one day Mom decided she wanted to go to a newspaper sponsored event and try to win some groceries.  She had never been successful before but figured, why not give it a try.  As the day progressed and women were called to come forward and see what they won, Mom heard the name Ruby Pudnusky called several times.  She had entered under that name thinking that Ruby Smith would not go over as well. And guess what, SHE WAS RIGHT.  She ended up winning several items that day as Ruby Pudnusky!

A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY

For months before she turned 80, at every opportunity Mom told everyone she wanted something really special, and BIG, for her birthday.  We kids hatched a plan to surprise her with a lavish weekend trip to Natchez.  We were careful not to tell Dad because we knew he couldn’t keep a secret from her!  I showed up unannounced at her house mid-morning one Friday close to her birthday and asked her if she had time to take a ride with me.  Of course she said yes.  As soon as we were out of sight, our sister Phyllis, who had been hiding around the corner, hurried to the house, told Dad to collect his Sunday best & travel bag – they had to leave for Natchez immediately.  Phyllis packed Mom’s favorite dressy clothes, make-up, etc. and they headed out.  Meantime, I took Mom to the Flowood airfield and asked her if she’d like to go on a helicopter ride.  She was thrilled and off we went.  We flew randomly around Jackson and the general area. After a while I pointed out the Mississippi River to her & asked her if she knew where she was.  She guessed Vicksburg and then was dumbfounded when we landed on the grounds of Fort Rosalie in Natchez.  Robin was there to pick us up, under the ruse of having been working down there that day.  We went to a lovely, leisurely lunch and then to several shops.  Mom was so excited she called Aunt Margie to brag.  She couldn’t stop smiling & laughing and saying it was the best birthday surprise she’d ever had.  Before long we told her we needed to head home but wanted to show her our favorite Natchez bed & breakfast on the way out of town.  We reached Riverside Inn on the high bluff and walked her quickly out to the River overlook.  She was mesmerized at the view, but her delight turned to amazement when she turned around to look back at the house and saw Dad & the rest of her children & their spouses lined up on the front porch!  The picture we took then is on the photo video Eddie put together.  That night we had a fancy birthday dinner - complete with cake, champagne, gifts & flowers - at the Castle Restaurant  at Dunleith mansion.  We had reserved the entire B&B, plus additional space next door and everyone spent the night.  Saturday the ladies shopped and lunched and the guys busied themselves having their own fun.  That night we all attended an enormous party at Rosalie commemorating the completion of the Natchez Trace.   I never saw her happier, more surprised or quite so at a loss for words.

Mom had a vivacious wit about her.  Those who knew her know what we mean.  There are so very many stories we could tell but these last two come from her recent stay at The Blake in Flowood. Mom moved into memory care there in June 2017.  Most of the residents are wheelchair bound, or use walkers or canes.  The Blake provides a lot of wonderful entertainment for the residents.  Once they were celebrating the 4th of July listening to a patriotic music program. The residents were singing along with the staff.  Everyone was seated but then the Lee Greenwood  song “God Bless the USA” started, and when Mom heard the line “I'd gladly stand up next to you” she immediately stood up and told the other residents “stand up!  didn’t y’all hear him?  To the amazement of the staff, every one of the residents got up from their chair and stood up!  We have been told there was not a dry eye in the house.

My brother Eddie has a very close friend who also visited his Mom at The Blake regularly.  Eddie had introduced Mom to Carey and one day Carey saw Mom wearing a really colorful blouse.  Carey said, “Mrs. Ruby, you are looking great today.”   She grinned and said “I know it.”   Then as Carey was talking to one of the workers he said “I bet when Mrs. Ruby was young she could turn some heads.”  Mom overheard him and told him “I turned yours, didn’t I?”

And finally, who can ever forget Ruby’s favorite catch-phrases:

BIIIIIIG (or HUUUUUUGE)

POE-TAY-TOE and TOE-MAY-TOE

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT

HEY, THIS IS MY STORY, KID

What would we give to hear her say any of those just one more time?

Thank you all for coming today to celebrate the life of our extraordinary mother.  Each of you was special to her, and her love for you, and for us, is the greatest legacy she could possibly leave to us all.