Ruby Cash Howard

Born April 4, 1936 in Kosciusko, Mississippi, she is preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Mellie Cash; her late husband, Morris D. "Billy Howard"; four sisters, Laura Hall, Mattie "Sis" Arendale, Barbara Sessums and Lynne Semore; and two brothers Bud and Billy Cash.

Survivors include her son, David (Keri) Howard of Birmingham, and her daughter, Laurie (Ray) Copeland of Tuscaloosa; her sister, Neva (James) Whitehead of Aberdeen, Mississippi; three grandchildren, Benjamin and Sarah Copeland of Tuscaloosa and Amelia Howard of Birmingham; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ruby graduated from Kosciuska High School in Kosciuska, Mississippi. In 1963, Ruby and Billy moved to Tuscaloosa. Ruby worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance. Then, she moved on to be the church secretary at Northwood Hills Baptist Church. She retired from the University of Alabama Anthropology Department where she worked as the secretary. There, Ruby enjoyed helping college students as they pursued their degrees. She also was a member of the Red Hat Society with many fun-loving friends. She was a long time member of St. Mark United Methodist Church. Most of her time was filled with participating in events at her home, Pine Valley Retirement Community and playing with her three grandchildren.

Arrangements will be made by Sunset Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider. Funeral services will be held at St. Mark United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 26, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park after the service.

Pallbearers will be David Howard, Ray Copeland, Tim Arendale, Todd Arendale, J.W. Arendale and Tommy Colvin.

Honorary pallbearers include the staff and residents of Pine Valley Retirement Community, 6th floor nurses at DCH, Dr. Anguiano and staff of Manderson Cancer Center, Dr. Fulgham and staff of Tuscaloosa Internal Medicine, Dr. Thomas and staff of Tuscaloosa Breast Center, nurses and staff at Hospice of West Alabama, Catherine Walker, Pat and Buddy Sanders, Jeri and Leon Kemp, Janice Howard, Brad Whitehead, Shirley Arendale, Joanne Arendale, Kelli and Tyler Hand, Gay Colvin, Pam and Larry Chestnut, Pam Byars, Harvey and Freda Fretwell, and staff of the University of Alabama Anthropology Department.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to First United Methodist Church Children's Ministries, 800 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401; Lifeline Children's Services, 2104 Rocky Ridge Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35216; or Hospice of West Alabama, 3851 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35404.