Ruby J. Abel

She attended Bryan Public Schools and graduated from E.A. Kemp High School. She later received her Bachelor’s Degree from Bishop College and her Master’s Degree from the University of North Texas. During the course of a more than thirty year career with the Dallas Independent School District, she rose through the ranks and retired as Principal of John Neely Bryan Elementary School. Later, she was a 2015 inductee into the African American Education Archive and History Program’s Hall of Fame.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Abel; mother, Josephine Johnson; father, Oscar Johnson; Brothers, Otis Johnson, Oscar Johnson, Jr., Herman Johnson and Columbus Johnson; her sisters, Lula Mae Williams and Georgia Johnson Wyatt.

She leaves behind those who will always cherish her memories: her sister, Oletha Bell and husband, William, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, and other relatives, friends and the Good Street Baptist Church Family.

Ruby was a strong woman, from a long line of strong women and men. For a little girl from the country outside of Bryan, Texas, she demonstrated there was no obstacle that could not be overcome, no hill that could not be climbed and no door that could not be kicked in. She will be sorely missed.