Von  Vargas

Ruby Mae Smith

Rubymae Smith, the child of the late Roy Clifton and Willie Esther Younger, was born August 30, 1934 in Baltimore, Maryland. She was 2nd born out of nine children. She departed this life on November 25, 2020 after a lengthy illness. Rubymae received her education in the Baltimore City Public School system, of which she attended Frederick Douglas High School. She met Robert John Smith through one of his sisters. They began dating, and on June 18, 1955 they were joined in holy matrimony. From this union, six children (three girls and three boys) were born.Rubymae was affectionately known to her family as Ruby, Aunt Ruby, Big Mama, Mama Ruby, Ma Ruby, Granny, Grandma, Drandma, and Bubay Bubay.Mama Ruby worked literally one day (24hrs) at Samson Restaurant, making bread rolls. After this job, she became a homemaker. Not only was she a homemaker, Mama Ruby was a daycare provider for family and friends, of which she ended in 1993.Mama Ruby was known for her strawberry punchbowl cake, even though Elder Joseph Dodson loved the crumbs from her coconut cake.
For years, she would start baking cookies and peanut brittle right after Thanksgiving. Her creativity was endless as she used her one basic cookie recipe to make 30 different kinds of cookies. She would give cookies for Christmas to every family in church, as well as all of her neighbors.In 1960, Rubymae, along with her six children, joined Doswell Temple. Mama Ruby worked in many capacities throughout the church. She sang on the Holy Ghost Choir, Women’s Choir, Sunday Night Choir, Broadcast Choir, State Choir and Christmas Candlelight Choir, and she served for many years as Local and State Secretary for YPWW. Over the years, she also decorated the church for the late Bishop James I. Doswell’s Pastoral Anniversary. She would mark the church's walls with footprints and the scriptural verse, Psalms 37:23... “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delighteth in His Way.”For years, she made signs that hung on the church's grounds that announced the upcoming services.
For the upbuilding of the church, Mama Ruby and her daughters worked in the kitchen for two Sundays every month selling dinners.She also sponsored a service called, "Everybody’s Birthday", and she participated in the flower pageant, as well as made robes and gowns for the choir's Youth Anniversary.
Being a seamstress, taught by her mother, she made gowns and cummerbunds for the children in Tom Thumb weddings. In fact, the first set of curtains that hung at the window of the church was sewn by her hands.
Mama Ruby was continually active in her children’s and grandchildren’s school, Lexington Terrace Elementary School. She decorated bulletin boards throughout the school for every season and various holidays. She made costumes for children’s school plays, and she was a member of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Her creativity would even lead her to teach an adult Arts & Crafts class at the Lexington Terrace Recreation Center.
Ma Ruby didn't just sew clothes and home decor for schools and church; she also sewed for family and friends. She made wedding gowns, her children’s Halloween costumes, prom gowns and tuxedos. She even taught five of her six children to sew. At the Smith family functions, she was usually asked to sing 'Precious Lord', 'How Great Thou Art', 'Just as I Am', 'It Is Well with My Soul', and 'Because He Lives'.
Mama Ruby was loved by all who were blessed enough to be in her presence, and she's left a legacy and an imprint that is unmatched. Rubymae is preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert J. Smith Sr.; two sons, Robert Jr. and Leigh Arthur Smith; one grandson, Antonio Jones; one son-in-law, Tony C. Kelly; two brothers, Roy Clifton, Jr. and James Younger; three sisters, Geneva Patton, Marjorie Stroman, and Sylvia Malloy. She's also preceded in death by her mother and father-in-law, four brothers-in-law and five sisters-in-law. Mama Ruby leaves to cherish her memory: One son, Dwight Smith (Linda); three daughters, Harriett Kelly, Jacqueline Walker (David), and Vernita Smith. Nineteen grandchildren: Denise, Latoya, Damon (Shontae) LaVonne (Shuna), D’Artegnon, Nichole (Mark), Courtney, Syllea, Latreshia, Earl Jr., Taavon, Kimberly (Keshia), Katrina, Carl (Keyona), and Christian. Seventeen great-grandchildren: Michael, Ariana, Malachi, Emmanuel, Jahiem, Trayvion, Ivyana, Kamari, Noah, Iziah, Gene, De’ja, Caleb, Aniya, Tyshawn, Makayla, Latoyria, and Shawn. Six great, great-grandchildren: Emmanuel, Zane, Aidenn, Cailynn, Joshua, and Ezekiel. Three Sisters: Alcanesia Washington, Willie Esther Younger, and Marian Younger.Three Brothers: Kenneth Younger (Margarita), Steve Malloy, and Booker T. Stroman II. Two Sisters-in-Law: Rosetta Batson and Helen Jones. One God-child, Bernice Owens; an "adopted" daughter, Delois Drake; and two special friends, Janice Wooten and Mildred Howard. And a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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