Ruby Helen McGehee James, 93, passed away Friday, July 13, 2018, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.
Visitation was noon Monday, July 16, 2018 until service began 2 p.m. at Wilson & Knight Funeral home in Greenwood. Interment followed in Old Union Church of Christ Cemetery in Carroll County. John C. Joiner, Ruby’s grandson officiated.
She was born December 8, 1924 in Attala County to Zera Earl McGehee and Irma Lois Goss McGehee. She spent her youth in Attala County on her parents’ dairy farm and played for hours with her brother, sister and loyal dog, Jack. She graduated from Itta Bena High School.
Her first job was working at LuVel Dairy in Kosciusko. After marrying in 1946, she and her husband Howard, made their home in Greenwood and had two daughters. In the early 1950’s, the family moved to Marianna, Fla. along with several families from the Greenwood area to work at Graham Air Base making lifelong friendships that continued when most of the families later returned to Carroll County. A son was born during these years in Florida.
After moving back to Mississippi in the late 1950’s and making her home in the hills of Carroll County, Boyd Community, she worked for Sears Roebuck for many years. Later on in life, she became the Carroll County Justice Court Clerk and retired from the office at the age of 86. She enjoyed working and there were only a few years of her life that she did not have a job.
She loved having her family around her at home for holidays and other times throughout the year and having her children and grandchildren return again and again to hunt, fish, and relax there. Reading and shopping were two of her favorite pastimes, and she never missed following a high profile court case on television.
Ruby developed a special friendship with Dean Newell of Inverness over the last decade of his life until his death in 2014. All that knew her and loved her will greatly miss her including her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who all affectionately called her “Ruby”. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Paula Kay James Jones; and brother, Clayton Neil McGehee.
She is survived by her sister, Joy E. Dickson (Bill) of Melbourne, Fla.; sister-in-law, Marlene McGehee of Greenwood; daughter, Marsha James Joiner (Dennis) of Brandon; son, Keith Earl James (Rita) of Carrollton; and grandchildren, Eddie M. Jones (Tammy), John Christopher Jones, Greg E. James (Kellye), Eric R. James, Jennifer J. Bryan (Tim), Samuel D. Joiner, Jr. (Kim), and John C. Joiner (Cara). Great grandchildren, Blake Jones, Reed Jones, Polly S. Cooper, Sophie K. James, Jack E. James, Mason R. James, Colbie C. Bryan, Kylie C. Bryan, Conner G. Bryan, Stella R. Joiner, Samuel Rhett Joiner, Molly K. Joiner and Julia C. Joiner.
Pallbearers were Larry Emmons, Edward M. Corder, Therell Turner, Sugar Mullins, Ray Montgomery and Mike Montgomery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Old Union Church of Christ Cemetery Fund c/o Keith King, 516 County Road 310, Carrollton, MS 38917 or to donor’s choice.
An online guestbook may be signed at wwwwilsonandknight.com.
