Mrs. Ruby Mae McElwee

Ruby Mae McElwee was born as Ruby Mae Wigfall in Saundersville, Georgia on November 27, 1935 to the late Eather Wigfall Sr. and Louise Poole. She departed this life on December 17, 2015. Ruby was married to the late Charles William McElwee Sr. for over 45 years prior to his sudden death in October 2002. Ruby was born by a midwife and her actual birthdate was November 27, 1934. She was often asked which age did she prefer to use and she would say "my government age" because it made her younger. Though Ruby had no formal schooling, she was always striving to learn and attended nursing school at Providence Hospital in the early 1960s and she received a certificate in nursing. Ruby always in learning mode, eventually received her GED once she retired in the late 1980s. Ruby was an unconventional, pioneer woman owning two grocery stores in Baltimore City at a time when women worked as housewives in the home or as housekeepers in other's homes. She also worked as a cook and at Pimlico and Laurel Race Courses as she had a love for horses. Ruby taught her children to strive for excellence and to be innovative in their approach to life and work. An avid gardener, Ruby grew everything in her backyard on Belvieu Avenue from strawberries, corn, greens and yes-even pumpkins. She often enlisted her grandsons to help her till the soil and would get upset with them when they would eat up all the strawberries. Ruby was always involved in faith-based organizations and was a member of the Eastern Stars in the early 1970s. In her later years she joined and became a faithful member of Epworth United Methodist Chapel where she served on the Outreach Ministry, the Women’s Ministry and the Wednesday afternoon Noon Day Devotion group. Even after becoming ill and going into FutureCare Courtland Gardens Nursing Home, she maintained strong ties to the church and to her fellow church members. She received visits every week from church members and the pastor. Ruby was preceded in death by her late husband, Charles William McElwee Sr., her son, Wade Jones Jr. stepson Sheraton McElwee Sr., mother Louise Poole her sister-in-law Cecelia Reid. Ruby was the eldest daughter of nine children and she was also preceded in death by her brothers, Eather Jr., Daniel, Robert and her beloved brother William (Willie), her sister Mary Lee and her niece Louise. She leaves to mourn daughters Debora Distance (Earl Thompson); Barbara Dunston and son-in-law Thomas J. Dunston Jr.; stepson Charles William McElwee Jr.; stepdaughter Paula Jackson; sisters Mattie James and Virginia Jackson, brother James Wigfall Sr., three grandsons (her pride and joy) Rodney Distance Jr. (Sophia);(her second husband) Charles Distance (Shakeria); and as she affectionately called him "my baby" Gregory Dunston (Andrea); grandniece/granddaughter Lakeyna Henderson (Daniel), nine great grandchildren, Imani, Tajah, Nevaeh, Taylor, Tyler, Jahleel, Amari, Ilayah, and Ana'lysia, adopted son Chuck Bryant and a host and we mean a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Love is how you stay alive even after you are gone. -Mitch Albom We love your momma and we know you are with your Lord and our daddy. The Family

Tributes

Mrs. Ruby Mae McElwee

November 27, 1935 - December 17, 2015