Ms. Ruby Delores Smith

Ruby D. Smith was born on April 20, 1960 to the union of Arthur and Luebirtha Talley in Milwaukee, WI. Ruby accepted Christ at the age of 13 and was united with Tabernacle Community Baptist Church where she was a member of the Tabernacle choir and worked in the kitchen with her mother. Ruby earned her diploma at MATC. She was a CNA for fifteen years, was employed by University School and ended her career at the U.S. Post Office. Ruby loved music and her voice was a vessel for Chris. When Ruby sang, you felt the anointing in her voice. She blessed her church home with her first solo of Precious Lord with the choir at Tabernacle. Every holiday, she would stand at the piano with Sister Lindsey singing: Lord Don't Move My Mountain, I'm Trampling Trying to Make Heaven My Home, and her all-time favorite Near the Cross. She also sang with the Heavenly Angels for several years. Gospel music eased her pain; when she was sick, when she was mad, when she was hurt, and when she was sad, gospel music and singing the Lord's praises was her saving grace. With an anointing voice also come an anointing touch. She hod a green thumb and loved to toke care of her plants. She could toke a small leaf and pour life into it until it bloomed into a flower, the same way her love bloomed within all of us. She poured life and love into her family for them to blossom in Christ. Ruby kept on immaculate home and enjoyed spending time with her family. When Ruby wasn't singing, cleaning, or watering her plants, she loved watching movies, especially action movies and Bruce Lee karate films. One of her favorites movies was Imitation of Life, when Mahalia Jackson song Precious Lord. She also had a sweet tooth. She loved jolly ranchers, apple sticks, licorice ropes, gumballs, and lemon heads. And to know Ruby is to know that she never bit her tongue. Her favorite line "If you're going to tell it, tell it like I said it. Don't add none, don't take nothing from it. Don't lie on me!" Ruby D. Smith departed this life on October 14,2021. She was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Luebirtha Tolley; mama Willie Mae Wells and daddy Charles Wells, Sr.; her sisters Geralene and Audrey Tolley; and her brother Willie Earl Wells. She leaves to cherish her memory: her beloved only daughter, Lakesha D. Smith; four grandchildren Jaques Austin, Ja'Kira Austin, and twins Kailey and Kiley Smith; her significant other Lance James; her aunt LueAnn Caston; her sisters Peggy and Patricio Tolley and Brenda Wells-White; her brothers Arthur Tolley Jr., Anthony Tolley, and Charles Wells Jr.: one special cousin Janalle Marie Goosby; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends. Even though she was in pain, her lost words were "Jesus, I Love You."

Ms. Ruby Delores Smith

April 20, 1960 - October 14, 2021