RUBY PETERSON

IN LOVING MEMORY

of Our Beloved Mother,

Grandmother,

Great-Grandmother, and

Great - Great Grandmother

Ruby Faye Washington Peterson was born in Ennis, Texas on November 9, 1936, to Luther and Eliza Washington.  She was the first of two daughters.

She professed her faith in Jesus Christ at an early age and soon joined Wayman Chapel A.M.E. of Ennis, TX. Upon moving to Dallas, she worshiped with St. Paul A.M.E. Church. Later in life, she united with Cedar Hill Bible Fellowship Church in Cedar Hill, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. William L. Askew, Sr. where she was loved and referred to as “Mother.”

Ruby received her formal education at Ennis Public School where she won and wore the crown of “Miss Ennis.” Around this time, Ruby met and began a courtship with a Sergeant of the United States Air Force, the late Leon Charles Peterson Sr. of Bryan, Texas. They were soon united in holy wedlock, and their union was blessed with three children: Leon Jr, Wanda, and Leonard. During Leon’s active military service, the Peterson family traveled abroad, making their home in Germany for a while. Afterwards, they returned to the states to live in Kentucky and then Tennessee.

In 1960, after the passing of her mother, Ruby and children relocated to Dallas. She found work as a Domestic Engineer, working for Dr. and Mrs. Lemon of Highland Park. As an ardent and skilled cook, she would sometimes prepare delicious meals for the Lemon family, and she took considerable pride in her beautiful table settings. She often boasted about the many times that she used her polished hospitality skill set to host lavish parties for the Lemons and their friends. After more than 50 years of employment with the Lemons, she decided to retire.

After her retirement, Ruby took time to enjoy life. She shared laughs and conversations over the phone with her loved ones every day, and sometimes those calls were interrupted by friends and/or family that would stop by. Her smile, kindness, and encouraging words would welcome you into the open door of her home where she always had something on the stove for her guests to eat.

Ruby’s greatest love was her family, and she was blessed to be born into a large one. Her grandparents, Marshall and Maggie Bradley of Ennis, were very influential in her life. Ruby and her sister Barbara shared an incredibly close and loving relationship with one another as well as with their cousins. It was through the strength of their friendships, the spirit of sisterhood, and shared experiences of the good and tough times of growing up that contributed to their enduring love for one another. She always provided support and unconditional love for all her family-- children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.

On January 09, 2022, Ruby passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, and daughter Wanda Peterson. She survived by her sister, Barbara Washington Thomas (Jimmy), two sons, Leon Charles Peterson Jr (Patricia), and Leonard Peterson; 11 grandchildren – Charles James, La’Tisha Peterson-Pierce, Lakesha Peterson, Charis Peterson, Reginald Peterson, Areva (Nikki) Houston-Peterson, Quincy Hart, O’Neil Peterson, Ashley Peterson, Cameron Peterson, and Camille Peterson; #21 great- grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren; special friends: Betty James,  Torunda Hart, and Kandy Peterson; and a large host of family and friends.

ALL were loved and cherished to the end.