Ruby Poole Harris

Ruby Poole Harris was born December 19, 1927, in Mocksville, North Carolina to the late Early Duke Poole and Maggie Wilson Poole. She went home to meet her Lord on March 21, 2026, at the age of 98, with her daughters by her side.

Ruby graduated from Harmony High School in 1947 in the first class to complete 12 grades. She moved to Charlotte with her two best friends, rented a room at a downtown boarding house, and began working at Union Storage & Warehouse Company as a secretary. While signing the paperwork for a freight delivery, she met the love of her life, the driver, Robert (Bob) Frank Harris of Charlotte. The two married on February 5, 1949, in the parsonage of First Baptist Church in Belmont, NC, and would go on to celebrate 71 years of marriage before Bob’s death in 2020.

Ruby had a knack for transcription, detailed record keeping, and administration. In 1953 she accepted a job in the Claims Department at U.S. Casualty Insurance Company in Charlotte, a move that would launch a fulfilling career in the insurance industry. Ruby worked as the secretary to the Claims Manager there and at Employers Mutual Insurance Company before staying home for several years to raise her three daughters. Upon her return to insurance, Ruby worked as the Secretary to the Claims Manager at Factory Insurance Consultants in Wadesboro, NC before being promoted to Claims Supervisor of the Group Health Department and later, Secretary to the President of the sister agency, Huntley-Ashcraft-Christy. Ruby finished her career at T.M. Mayfield Insurance Adjusters in Charlotte where she handled hundreds of claims from Hurricane “Hugo”. She retired in 1991 to enjoy her lifelong passions for sewing, quilting, flower-gardening, canning vegetables, volunteering at church, and participating in her daughters’ and grandchildren’s lives.

Ruby was a member of Statesville Avenue Baptist Church and Hopewell Baptist Church, where she organized the Sewing Ministry, led the Mary’s Sunday School class, coordinated the Food Pantry, taught Vacation Bible School and GA’s, built life-long friendships, and grew in her relationship with God. Ruby loved inviting people to church and once there, getting them connected. For decades, she was also an active member of the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service’s Fairview Home Demonstration Club, sharing skills around cooking, sewing, gardening, and canning with women across Union County and NC. In 1974, Ruby was named Union County’s Outstanding Extension Homemaker. Her daughters’ fondest memories of their mama are her “never-give-up” approach to life, her creativity, her resourcefulness, her gifts of hospitality and serving others, her dedication to her faith, and her love of people. She never met a stranger.

Ruby is survived by her daughters, Deborah (Debbie) Huggins of Indian Trail, NC, Jacquelyn (Jackie) Leath of Monroe, NC, and Katrina Larrison (husband Robert Larrison, Jr.) of Indian Trail, NC; grandchildren, Daniel Huggins of Fort Mill, SC, Robert Larrison, III of Wadesboro, NC, and Michaela Larrison of Belmont, NC; great grandchildren, Nicholas (Nick) Huggins of Fort Mill, SC and Zachary (Zack) Huggins of Fort Mill, SC; and sister, Mildred Laney of Concord, N.C.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Frank Harris; parents; sisters, Clara Evans, Helen Cashion, and Hazel Steele; and brothers, Ray Poole and Clarence Poole.

The family will receive friends Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Hopewell Baptist Church Legacy Chapel. The funeral service will be Friday, March 27, 2026, at 2:00 pm at Hopewell Baptist Church Legacy Chapel with burial immediately following at Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery.