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Ruby Pollard Powell

July 3, 1927 ~ September 19, 2012

Ruby Pollard Powell went to be with her Lord on September 19, 2012. She was born on July 3, 1927 in Tarboro, NC to the late John Thomas and Marvel Carson Pollard. She was preceded in her death by her husband, Earl Carlton Powell Sr., 2 children, Cynthia Ann Powell and Sherry Dawn Powell as well as 3 brothers, John Pollard, Ashley Pollard, and Thigpen Pollard. She was a member of Second Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir and served as a deacon. Upon its closure, she became an active member of Englewood Presbyterian Church. Ruby was known for her dedication to her family, friends, and service to others. She was one of eight recipients in 1999 for the Governor's Award for outstanding volunteer service as well as being one of 100 women chosen in the nation honored by Eckerd Drugs for her volunteer work. Her time was given as a volunteer to the American Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, Communities In Schools, Nash Day Hospital, Westgate Nursing Home, Rocky Mount Pregnancy Care Center, Community Hospice not to mention the countless meals she prepared for people in need. She is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. The children and their spouses are Earl Carlton Powell Jr., Deborah Powell Figlewski and husband Stan, John Thomas Powell and wife, Lynn, Denise Powell Russell and husband Mark. The grandchildren and their spouses are Earl Carlton Powell III, Jason Clayton, Ashley Figlewski Joyner and husband Phillip, Stash Figlewski and wife Krissy, Andrew Figlewski, John Powell and wife Emily, Brad Powell and wife Nancy, Carson Russell, Jackson Russell, and Gibson Russell. Great-grandchildren are Jude Clayton, Micah Joyner, Afton Joyner, Bristol Joyner, Jackson Figlewski, Abigail Powell, Jack Powell, Ashley Hauser, and Julia Powell. The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. David Browder for his compassionate and supporting care and to Community Home Care and Hospice for their exceptional dedication and service during this difficult time, particularly Chrissy Moore. All arrangements are entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home located at 1130 N Winstead Ave, Rocky Mount. Visitation will be 7-8:30 pm Saturday, September 22, 2012 at the funeral home and the graveside service will be Sunday at 2:00 pm at Pineview Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends and family at the Russell home at 120 Whitby Court in Rocky Mount. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheeler-woodlief.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Barium Springs Home for Children, P. O. Box 1, Barium Springs, NC 28010 or the charity of your choice. Visitation Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services 1130 N. Winstead Ave. Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-451-8800 --> | Saturday 9/22, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Service Pineview Cemetery 761 N. Raleigh Road Rocky Mount, NC 27801 Sunday 9/23, 2:00 pm Cemetery Pineview Cemetery 761 N. Raleigh Road Rocky Mount, NC 27801

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  1. Mrs Powell will always be one of the most respected people in my life. This woman was true friend to me and my family. Linwood ,Steven, and myself all loved her and will truly miss her. May God Bless all of you. Brenda cherry

  2. What a sweet lady. I always loved talking with Ms Powell. She always had a smile for you. I’m sure she will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.

  3. My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time. Your mother was one of a kind and will be missed by everyone who knew her. I have considered the Powell family a part of my own family since I was a teenager at Second Presbyterian Church but became very close to Mrs. Powell when I began working in her home. I watched as her health declined recently and was amazed at her trust in God even during times of pain and fear. She was not afraid because she knew she would be seeing the face of her Lord very soon. Her acceptance of her illness was astounding to me. I asked her one day, how she could remain so calm about her illness and the outcome and she replied Honey, I’ve been dying since the day I was born!. She has been a true inspiration to me and I will always remember the life lessons she taught me. I hope Earl, Debbie, Johnny and Denise know how fortunate they are to have been raised by such a gracious lady! I love you all! Robin Cummings Perry

  4. Our sympathy and prayers are with the family! Ruby was a wonderful person and friend and will be missed. I am so glad I went to visit with her on Monday. She was truly an inspiration to me, as well as many others. God bless you at this time. Dee Dee Smith

  5. My sympathy and prayers to Ruby’s family. She was my mother’s, Sylvia Pollard, aunt; my mother being the daughter of Ruby’s brother, John Pollard. May God give you all that peace that only He can give.

  6. Earl, Debbie, John, and Denise, what a wonderful Christian your Mom was! Every time I stepped through the doors of Second Presbyterian Church, there was your Mom. I can’t ever remember a time when she wasn’t there. She was a wonderful mentor because she truly lived her faith. Some of my fondest memories are of her when we were growing up together. Heaven’s choir is now blessed with her presence! Hold onto all of the happy memories you have of your Mom. They will always brighten your days! Blessings to all of you. Jamey Ellis DeBerry

  7. Ruby was a true Christian who lived by ‘The Word’. She loved everyone and everyone who was blessed to know her loved her. During my cancer treatments, she always showed up just at the ‘right’ moment to lift my Spirits and encourage me to keep fighting. She was a compassionate and loving friend to my husband Richard Moore’s family and faithfully visited his parents every week until their passing. The funniest recollection I have of Ruby was when she was preparing to undergo eye surgery. Richard and I promised that we would be at the hospital very early in the morning. As soon as we arrived at the hospital and learned that only family members could go through to her, I told the receptionist that I was her sister! (We were, after all, Sisters In Christ!). Richard said that he was her cousin! An hour later Denise joined us in Ruby’s pre-op room. She had been sitting outside in the waiting room and none of the staff aproached her to ask if she needed assistance! Ruby had such a good laugh over that! I named her ‘The Duchess of Southwick Court’ and always addressed mail to her with that nomenclature! I gave Ruby that Title because she reminded me of my very regal looking Grandmother in Scotland. Ruby will be greatly missed by everyone here on earth, however I am certain that she has joined the Angelic ranks in Heaven and is now a Heavenly Angel who will continue to serve her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She has been reunited with all of her loved ones who passed before her. After all our tears have dried, we will remember Duchess Ruby, not with the pain that is presently in our hearts but with a smile when we recall all the happy wonderful times we shared together. May Ruby’s family find comfort in knowing that the Lord will continue to watch over all of them. He will provide the comfort that only He can provide.

  8. I was fortunate to know and work with Ruby through the Red Cross for many years. She was a bright light and brought joy to many with her upbeat attitude, her generous spirit, her sense of humor and her ability to deal with life’s adversities in a positive manner. She was greatly admired and will be truly missed. My sympathy and prayers are with her family. Karyl Marsigli

  9. It was a real joy and pleasure coming to Rocky Mount the last few Thanksgiving holidays to visit Ruby, Blanche, Debbie and Stan, Denise and Mark, Earl and the rest of the extended North Carolina family. Ruby always humored us with her quick wit, and was always so gracious when myself, my Dad, my brother Darek and Uncle John Pollard when we came to visit. We will miss her so much, but we will find great comfort knowing she is with the Lord, that she is reunited with her husband, and that she will be a friend in heavan to my mom, Hope Pollard Leech. – Ashley Leech (son to Leonard Leech and Hope Pollard Leech, and grandson to Ruby’s brother John Pollard)


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