Ruby Sowell

RUBY SOWELL was born in 1950 in Mc Bee, South Carolina to the late Booker T. and Willow Sowell. As one of eight children, she and her siblings were raised in a timeline, where sharecropping was a means for many families to make a living. Her education was cultivated when she attended Pine Forest High School in Mc Bee, South Carolina. In 1963, she relocated to Union Street in New York and continued her education at Eastern District High School in Brooklyn, New York. In the mid 70’s Ruby attended The Wilfred Beauty Academy where she proudly received her license as a Beautician from the State of New York. In her later years, she worked at the Brooklyn Developmental Center as a Special Needs Aide for the Developmentally Disabled. Although she had a passion for beauty and fashion, the true love of her life were her two children Deidre and Donisha. As a devoted mother, she worked two jobs and long house to provide for her children and their well-being.. If you knew Ruby, affectionately, known in the neighborhood as “Ms. Ruby”, you knew her to be quite protective of what she referred to as her “Empire”. Later her “Empire” expanded with the birth of her “Grandbaby” Nyla who became the center of her attention. One of her later achievements was to stop smoking and she in fact fulfilled her goal in favor of a healthier lifestyle for her granddaughter Nyla. She then became an Advocate for The Smokers Cessation Program and was awarded a certificate for her achievement. Ruby was a comforter to family and friends. She was a blanket of comfort to many. Her door was always opened unconditionally. She was out spoken, very Straight Forward, No nonsense, and always spoke the truth. She enjoyed gospel music and reading and studying the word of the Lord. Ruby Red a gem of value, with class and style the name we speak of value. She is laid to rest with her beloved mother and her three brothers Booker T., James and J. Howard Sowell. She leaves to cherish her memory: two daughters Deidre S. Sowell and Donisha N. Sowell; one granddaughter the love of her life Nyla; brother Jervey of Brooklyn, New York; three sisters: Sarah of Brooklyn, New York, Rebecca and Vicky of Queens, New York; one son-in-law Jerome A. Bridgman; her dear friend of many years Cecilia Thomas in addition to many close family and friends.

Ruby Sowell

October 19, 1950 - December 13, 2015