Ruby Rhodes Bryant

Ruby Lee Rhodes made her earthly entrance on May 2, 1940 becoming the first child of the late Henry and Iona (nee Stanley) Rhodes in Mount Olive North Carolina. She was followed by three siblings: Thomas Henry, Barbara Ann, and Glenda Jean. The family moved to Portsmouth in the early forties. Ruby attended the Portsmouth school system graduating from I.C. Norcom in 1958. She attended Norfolk State college for a year then moved to Newark New Jersey staying with her uncle Jasper Rhodes wile she sought employment. Jasper facilitated her getting a job at his place of employmen,t Greystone Psychiatric Hospital, in Morris Plains New Jersey as a human service technician. Ruby was introduced to her future husband, Theodore (Ted) Bryant), who was employed at Greystone by her cousin Earl Pigford who also worked at Greystone. They were married on November 25, 1965. They began their life together in Newark, later they moved to Irvington New Jersey. They were blessed with one child Cheryl Renee. Theodore passed away in 1997. In the 70’s, when the opportunity presented itself, Ruby and Ted completed nursing training. Ruby completed the practical nursing course and Ted completed the registered nursing course both passed the licensing examination, and both transitioned into LPN and RN positions at Greystone. Ruby retired in 2009 after working fifty years for the same employer. Ruby had a very strong work ethic. For many years she worked part-time jobs while always working full-time at Greystone. Ruby was an avid television fan. She truly loved watching the soap operas and sports competitions. Ted enjoyed watching basketball and football. Ted taught Ruby the rules of the games and she too became an ardent fan of basketball and football. She could converse about the sports and the players as well as male enthusiasts. She became so adept at analyzing the games that she entered football pools and won sometimes. Many men, including her son-in-law Dana Gordon, enjoyed talking with her about football and basketball. She accepted Christ when she was an adolescent. She was baptized at Mount Hermon Baptist Temple in Portsmouth. She joined Saint John Baptist Church in Jersey City, New Jersey in the 1990s. She later transferred her membership to Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church, Jersey City under the leadership of Rev. Nolan Doby. She was a faithful member. Like her mother, Ruby was old school when it came to dressing for church and other social events that traditionally called for “getting dressed up”. She always showed up well dressed with fabulous eye-catching fancy hat to attend church. Ruby and Ted travelled with co-workers to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, and some countries in South America. She enjoyed attending family reunions. She liked a good meal. Fried chicken, shrimp, T-bone steak, and her son-in-law’s spaghetti, and sweet potato pie were some of her favorites. She retired in 2009 to take care of her parents who lived in Virginia when their health became severely compromised. Henry died in 2010 and Iona in 2019. Ruby began to have serious health problems in 2017. She decided to stay in Virginia. She was supported by family and friends. She received excellent personal care from Tiffany Ellis and Casheta Ellis. Ruby was quiet, humble, kind, independent, and generous with family and friends. She also supported many charities. She would stop and offer medical assistance day or night to auto accident victims. Young people were drawn to her empathetic nature. They sought her advice and counsel because they felt they would be heard. She had definite opinions about what she thought was right or wrong. She was an independent thinker. She was not easily persuaded to change her mind. She loved Cheryl and Cherylynn dearly and boasted with pride about her grandchild. She leaves to mourn: a loving daughter, Cheryl Renee Gordan, granddaughter, Cherylynn Gordon, son-in-law Dana Gordon, sister Glenda R. Hodges, sister-in-law Naomi Scott, three aunts, Bernice Rhodes, and Harriet Rhodes, Helen Green, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends. She turned out the light and closed the door to a productive life well lived on July 21, 2020. She will be missed but not forgotten. We are thankful to God for the gift of memory.