Ruby Roberts

Ruby Ann Roberts was born on February 10, 1927, in Alpine, TN (Overton County). Her family later moved to Cookeville, TN (Putnam County). She was the fifth of nine children born to the late John Barlow Roberts and Mary Elizabeth Armstrong Roberts. She transitioned to be with the Lord on her birthday, Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at the age of 94. Ruby was educated in the Overton County School System. In her early adult years, she worked in nearby towns like Oakdale, TN, and Oak Ridge, TN. One of her jobs during that period was serving meals to troops as they departed the troop trains. Throughout her career, she worked for various families in Cookeville. She eventually worked for and retired from Upper Cumberland Electric Corporation. At an early age she became the caregiver to some of her younger siblings after the death of her mother. Ruby spent special time with all of her brothers and sisters over the years. She loved hunting and fishing with her brother, DeWitt, and going to yard sales with her sister, Carrie. She enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews and had special nicknames for many of them. Ruby loved working in her gardens. She took great pride in her roses and irises, and once won Yard of the Month. Ruby was a woman of many talents including drawing, writing songs and designing her own clothes, purses and accessories. She had the gift of hospitality and took special care to always have a fresh, cool drink ready for anyone who stopped by. She cherished the time she spent with family and friends and always welcomed them warmly with one of her famous home-cooked meals. Ruby lived to see four generations. She was a devoted mother to her four children and instilled the values of hard work and integrity. She adored her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, and in return, they honored and cherished her. She took great pride in making each of them feel special by spending time with them, buying gifts, slipping them a stack of quarters, or making them a special meal. Ruby accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized into Christ on February 10, 2013. She was a member of the McClellan Avenue Church of Christ. Ruby was a longtime resident of NHC Healthcare. While there, she enjoyed playing bingo and socializing with friends. On Sundays, she enjoyed the worship services led by volunteers from various churches and visits with her sister Mary. Through the years she developed special friendships with many of the nurses and caregivers at NHC. One of Ruby’s nurses, Nancy, became more like family. Ruby often joked about Nancy’s squeaky shoes. Even after retiring, Nancy would send Ruby flowers. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Howard and Dewitt Roberts; and sisters, Versie Roberts, Callie B. Buck, Opal Howard, Carrie Roberts and Jean Strode. Left to cherish her memory are daughters, Marion Paulette Roberts Gore (Raymond Gore) of Knoxville; Janice M. Roberts Sisco (Tyrone Sisco) of Nashville; sons, Wallace Roberts (Carolyn Peak); Marciano Roberts (Sherry Roberts), all of Cookeville; sister, Mary Phillips Roberts Wester (Charlie King Wester) of Cookeville; grandchildren (Eunice, Ray, Randall, Selina, Derrick, Jason, LaKeisha, LaTonya, LaShaela); great grandchildren (Ashtyn, Colby, Kennedy, Spencer, Sumner, Emery, Brezin, Jyron, Kinsey, Ashlyn, Pierce, Braxton), great-great grandchildren (Elle and Blake), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.