Ruby Nell Bryson

Born January 5, 1949, in Franklinton, Louisiana, to the late Gino and Quillie Warren, Ruby was 1 of 14 children born to her late parents. Ruby dedicated her life to faith, family, and service to others. She graduated as Valedictorian of Washington Parish High School in 1967. In January 1968, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she met the love of her life, James C. Bryson. They married on February 23, 1968, beginning a lifelong union filled with devotion and joy.

Ruby was known for her kindness, wisdom, compassion, and unwavering love for her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family. A devout Christian, she served faithfully as a choir leader, praise and worship leader, and member of the gospel group Kenneth Lewis and Phase One for many years. Her church affiliations were Bethel Church of Christ Holiness, Franklinton, LA; First Church of Christ Holiness, Washington, DC; Reality Gospel Church, Alexandria, Virginia; and Victory Fellowship, Newington, VA.

After retiring in 2011, Ruby embraced entrepreneurship with her youngest daughter, Melanie, co-owning Fine Fabrics and Furnishings LLC in Durham, NC. She never hesitated to offer counsel and encouragement, leaving a legacy of love, spiritual wisdom, and strength. She was also cherished for her famous Sock-It-To-Me cake and her Coconut Lemon cake, which brought joy to countless gatherings.

Ruby is survived by her husband, James C. Bryson Sr.; son, James C. Bryson Jr. (Tracy); daughters Daphne Boone (Jonathan) and Melanie Bryson; six grandchildren, Brandon, Quinton, Stephanie, Daniel, Morgan, and Briana; five great-grandchildren, Ryan, Dylan, Greyson, Tyler, and Rylee; two grand-dogs, Bailey and Aurora; sisters Madge Robinson (Andrew) and Wilma Harris (Larry); brothers Jeffrey Warren (Maye), Norris Warren, Louis Warren (Janice), Thomas Warren (Alicia), Wilfred Warren, Darryl Warren, and Garrick Warren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who will cherish her memory.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Brunell, Rushell, Lester, and Errol Warren.

A Celebration of Life was held in the Chapel of Mitchell Funeral Home, Raleigh, NC on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 11:00am.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Ruby, or a message of condolence for her family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.

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Tributes to Ruby

Grandma,

First and foremost I love you and I miss you! Your illness did not defeat you. You defeated it!

2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV) We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. There is no doubt in my mind that is where you are because of your faith, obedience and your relationship with Jesus. We are suffering right now because you are no longer here in the physical form but suffer no more grandma because you have earned your wings. I just wanna say thank you Grandma for your guidance, your nurturing, your wisdom and your unconditional love. Thank you for leading by example on how to live a God-fearing life. I’m going to miss your soft and gentle voice telling me to always be kind to one another and how you are proud of me and to make sure I take care of those babies of mine

Don’t Worry WE GOT GRANDPA!

I Love You Always,

Your 2nd Grandson Quinton (aka your favorite) (should’ve been the first but oh well lol)

Grandma,

We had a long talk about this new journey and by the grace of God you are free from it all. Ashley & I will miss your wisdom, and guidance to life and we are carrying it with us along the way. We miss you dearly, it’s not a goodbye it’s a see you later til we meet again in the Kingdom of God.” Love you so much! Daniel & Ashley. P.S. I’m still the favorite lol

To my buddy,

My bestest bud. My grandma.

I’m so blessed to have been loved by you and grandpa. You set the standard for love, humanity, fellowship, hospitality and what it takes to be present in people’s lives. Everyone you have touched has a beautiful story about how your warm spirit and hugs was just a reset to a rainy day they haven’t shared with anyone.

You have been there every step of my life. You took me in and it was me you and Alex against the world. Or at least Durham. But me and Alex watched over you and protected you like our lives depended on it. Although I was still young and had a lot to learn. All it took was a talk at the island for us to be on the same page and for me to walk away with a lesson. I may never be the same now that you have gone to be with God on a well-deserved vacation might I add but being not being the same isn’t always regression or negative. It’s progression and birthing a better version of myself. More durable, more loving, more appreciative. So, as we celebrate your life and not get caught up in the fact that you’re not here with us, I wanna say from the bottom of all of our hearts when I say thank you for being a home to so many of us when we needed it the most. Thank you for being patient. Thank you for loving me and sorry about painting the clothes hamper with your red nail polish. You didn’t like that too much.

I love you so much and cover me with your wings whenever the world feels cold.

Your buddy, Tink (Brandon)

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Appreciation Letter to My Sister Melanie

Dear Melanie,

I want to take a moment to put into words what my heart has carried during mom’s journey. Your love, strength, and sacrifice during Mom’s battle with cancer were nothing short of extraordinary. You stood by her side through every difficult day, offering comfort, care, and dignity when she needed it most.

You gave of yourself selflessly—setting aside your own needs to make sure Mom was never alone, never without compassion, and never without the reassurance of your presence. You became her anchor in the storm, her advocate when she couldn’t speak for herself, and her source of peace when the pain was overwhelming.

I know those days were heavy, and I know the toll it took on you. Yet you carried it with grace, with patience, and with a love that reflected the very best of who you are. In doing so, you honored Mom in the most beautiful way possible—by ensuring her final chapter was filled with care, dignity, and the warmth of family.

Melanie, I will forever be grateful for what you did. You showed me what true devotion looks like, and you reminded me of the power of love lived out in action. Mom’s legacy lives on not only in the memories we share, but in the way you embodied her spirit of compassion and faith.

Please know that your sacrifice did not go unnoticed. It is etched into my heart, and it will always be part of the story of our family. I thank God for you, and I thank you for being the sister who gave so much of herself to honor our mother.

With all my love and deepest gratitude,

James and Daphne

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Appreciation Letter to My Aunts Wilma and Madge

Dear Aunt Wilma and Aunt Madge,

We want to express our deepest gratitude to you both for the love and sacrifice you showed during Mom’s battle with cancer. Leaving your own families in Maryland to come down and care for her was no small act—it was a profound gift of compassion, devotion, and faith.

Your presence brought comfort not only to Mom, but to all of us. You gave her strength when she was weary, companionship when the days felt long, and dignity in the midst of her struggle. You reminded her—and us—that family is a bond that endures even in the hardest of times.

We know the time you spent away from your homes was a sacrifice, and we want you to know how much it meant. You carried the weight of caregiving with grace, and you honored Mom by ensuring she was surrounded by love until the very end. That kind of devotion is rare, and it will forever be remembered as part of her story and our family’s legacy.

Your actions reflected the very heart of who Mom was—a woman of faith, compassion, and strength. By standing with her, you carried forward her spirit and showed us all what it means to love without condition.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We will always cherish the memory of your care and the example you set for our family. Mom’s journey was made lighter because of you, and her legacy shines brighter because of the love you gave.

With love and deepest appreciation,

Jim, James, Daphne and Melanie

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Appreciation Letter to Yolanda Long and the Transitions Lifecare Team

Dear Yolanda and the Transitions Lifecare Team,

We want to extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for the love, support, and gentle care you provided to our mother, Ruby, during her time in your care. In one of the most difficult seasons of our lives, you brought comfort, dignity, and peace—not only to Mom, but to our entire family.

Yolanda, as Head Nurse, your steady presence and compassionate leadership gave us confidence and reassurance. You treated Mom not just as a patient, but as someone deeply cherished, and that made all the difference. Magee, your tender care as Nurse’s Aid brought daily comfort and relief, and your kindness touched us more than words can express. Lauren, as Social Worker, you became a source of strength and guidance, helping us navigate the emotional and practical challenges with grace.

Together, you became like our extended family. You walked with us through moments of sorrow and uncertainty, and you reminded us that we were not alone. Your devotion and compassion reflected the very heart of what caregiving should be—love in action, expressed through patience, gentleness, and unwavering support.

Please know that your efforts will never be forgotten. You honored Mom’s life by ensuring her final days were filled with dignity and surrounded by care. For that, we will always be grateful.

With love and deepest appreciation,

James, Daphne and Melanie

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Tribute to LeDerrick and Ruby’s Bond

“In the tapestry of family, some threads are woven closer than others. For LeDerrick, an only child who faced the profound loss of both his parents, Ruby stepped into his life not only as a cousin but as the sister he never had. She became his guiding light, his confidant, and his protector—offering the warmth of family when he needed it most. Their bond was more than kinship; it was a testament to love that transcends titles, proving that family is not only who we are born to, but who stands beside us in our greatest need.”