Ruby Lee Collier

RUBY’S JOURNEY... Ruby Lee Newberry Shivers Collier, at the age of ninety-six (96), peacefully departed this life on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at her home in Fruitland, Maryland, surrounded by her loving family. Ruby was born on Monday, November 24, 1924, in Houston County, Georgia. She was the youngest daughter of the late John Robert and Emmaline (Davis-Newberry). Ruby was the last of her twelve siblings, the last of her Newberry and Duhart first cousins and the last of her in-laws. Ruby received her early education in Houston County at the Green Grove-Rosenwald School in Browndale, Georgia, and in 1985, she received a diploma in Mature Adult Development from SHORE UP! Inc. Training and Employment Projects. Ruby was a dedicated and the oldest member of the National Federation of the Blind (Eastern Shore Chapter) in Salisbury, Maryland. She was a domestic worker, private duty sitter, nurse’s assistant and for thirteen (13) years, she was a dedicated and loving Daycare Mother who loved each child as if they were her very own. In the 1940’s, Ruby moved from Georgia to Paterson, New Jersey. There she met and married the late Reverend E.J. Shivers. To this union, two children were born, one daughter and one son. After the passing of Reverend Shivers, she later met and married John Wesley Collier and was joined in Holy Matrimony on February 20, 1960. With this union, she gained two sons and they were blessed with the birth of two sons and a daughter. Ruby received the Lord at an early age. During her youth, she became a member of Green Grove Baptist Church and was active in the Sunday School ministry. While in New Jersey, she became a member of the Canaan Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Gadson L. Graham. There she served as a Deaconess, on the Pastor’s Aid Ministry, Busy Bee’s, the Willing Workers, Floral Club and sang with the Senior Choir. In 1974, Ruby and John, along with their children, relocated to Fruitland, Maryland, where she soon joined Mount Calvary United Methodist Church, under the leadership of Reverend William T. Wallace, Sr. She was an active member, serving as a stewardess and with the Women’s Society and singing with the Adult Choir. She served faithfully and was always willing to do whatever she could to the Glory of God. However, as her health declined and she was no longer able to serve and attend as often, she was still adamant about supporting her church. Ruby was a loving, quiet, spirit-filled woman who loved the Lord. You could always hear her singing or humming throughout the house and even though her eyesight had diminished, you could always find her with her magnifying glass reading her Bible. She loved her family and everyone with whom she came in contact. Ruby loved to cook, loved talking, loved sewing by hand and she enjoyed and looked forward with great anticipation to attending the many Newberry Family reunions held throughout the United States. In addition to her parents, Ruby was preceded in death by: her loving husband of thirty-seven (37) years, John Wesley Collier and beloved son, David LeVaughn Collier, Sr.; four brothers, Horace Miller, John Henry Dupree, Stonewall Newberry and Robert Newberry; five sisters, Jeradine (Jerri) Allen, Annie Lee Richardson, Lizzie Washington, Nancy Johnson and Johnnie Mae Dickey and other cherished family members. Ruby leaves to cherish precious and fond memories of her life and legacy with: two loving daughters, Valarie Walton of Salisbury, MD and Patricia Mapp of Fruitland, MD, who also was her devoted caregiver; four sons, Alvin Richardson (Nettie) of Warwick, RI, Joseph Shivers of Paterson, NJ, John Collier of Homestead, FL and James Collier of Jersey City, NJ; one daughter-in-law, Sandra Collier of Upper Marlboro, MD; seventeen grandchildren, including three whom she helped raise, Royel, Malcolm and Canaan Mapp; twenty-nine (29) great grandchildren; six nieces, Mary Kendrick, Emma Dickey, Cynthia Scott (goddaughter), Evelyn Bennett, Jacqueline Dickey and Mamie Davie; three nephews, Willie James Washington, Ronald Dickey and Jeffrey Dickey; great nephew, James Kendrick (godson); special niece-in-law, Lorece Bounds; special and devoted great-niece, Kishia Bounds-Jenkins; special friends who were like daughters, Barbara Brown, Selma Morris, Brenda Bounds, Connie Harmon, Marsha Hankerson, Reverend Alexina Seldon, Deborah Horsey, Selina Johnson and the late Mary McBride; adopted son, Eugene Price of Paterson, NJ; caregivers, Clarissa Wilson and Annabelle Watson and a host of other family members and special friends. GONE FROM OUR PRESENT SIGHT BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN; ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND HEARTS! LOVINGLY SUBMITTED ~ THE FAMILY

Ruby Lee Collier

November 24, 1924 - August 11, 2021