Ruby L. Barber-Bottie

Ruby Lee Barber-Bottie of Barnegat, New Jersey passed away on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Ruby was born in Bethel, North Carolina to Roy P. Wilkins and Christine Jenkins on September 22, 1935. She attended elementary school at Fleming Street School followed by C. M. Epps High School in Greenville, North Carolina. Ruby married Willie Edward Barber in 1954 and, in pursuit of their family dreams and opportunities, they traveled north to Brooklyn, New York in the late 1950s. Ruby and Willie lived in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick and Brownsville Brooklyn.  They had 4 boys; Russell Darnell Barber, Willie Edward Barber Jr, Gregory Delano Barber (deceased) and Gary Lavon Barber.  Realizing the importance of education, Ruby achieved her goal to obtain her High School GED from Boys and Girls High School in 1970. In 1974, she began her career with the Federal Aviation Administration at John F. Kennedy Airport as an Administrative Assistant. Ruby and Willie moved from Brooklyn to Rosedale, New York in 1975.  Ruby and Willie divorced in 1981. After 20 years, Ruby retired from federal service in 1994. Ruby relocated to Barnegat, New Jersey in 2003, where she later married her friend and soulmate Lawrence “Larry” Milton Bottie in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 15, 2007. They lived a happy and loving life together in Barnegat NJ until Larry’s passing on October 29, 2014.

First and foremost, Ruby was a devout woman of God!  For many years before she moved to New Jersey, Ruby was a long standing member of The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of Jamaica, New York. You could always spot Ruby in one of her beautifully crafted hats with a matching dress. Ruby had a beautiful voice like you couldn’t believe, singing at church or at home always came naturally.  She would often emulate her favorite singer, Tina Turner!  Growing up, Ruby loved sports, was very competitive and always enjoyed a hard earned victory. She was exceptionally skilled and hard to beat in card games like “Bid-Whist and Spades”, even if there was a little cheating involved.    

Ruby also loved to travel.  She would often travel on the highway by herself to visit family and friends from New Jersey to North Carolina.  From time to time, Ruby enjoyed the excitement of Harrah’s casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where, of course, she knew everyone and was treated like the royalty she was. You could catch her on a Saturday morning going for a drive in her bright-red Mercedes-Benz, headed down to hit another jackpot on the slots or catch a bite at one of her favorite restaurants or king crab legs at the buffet. Ruby was skilled in sewing, embroidering, & stitching masterpiece throws and pillows by hand. In her younger years, she often made beautiful outfits for her children from “scratch” without the use of a pattern. Ruby had a sense of style like no other, whether decorating her home or ensuring that her hair, nails and dress were perfect.  One of Ruby’s beloved activities was going for a relaxing manicure and pedicure, always getting the bright “Ruby Red” color of course!  With all of Ruby’s hobbies and favorite activities, what she loved most was gathering with friends and family whether it was holidays, special occasions or just some quality time together.

Ruby is predeceased by her mother Christine Jenkins and father Roy Wilkins as well as her beloved husband Lawrence Milton Bottie.  Ruby is survived by her sons Russell Darnell Barber, WIllie Edward Barber, Jr and his wife Sandra and Gary Lavon Barber and his wife Gayle; her step-sons Rob Bottie and Scott Bottie; her sisters: Edna Parker, Ada Jean Teel and her husband Ronald and Joyce Morrison; her step-brothers: Curtis, Roy, Norris,Terry and Wayne Wilkins; her step-sisters: Carol Freeman, Ann Gardner and Waltee Moore; her grandchildren: Chanda Tunisia Murphy and her husband Elliott, Russell Darnell Barber Jr., Randy Lavon Barber, Kevin Lavon Barber, Brian Edward Barber, Chelsea Dawn Barber, Corey Hugh Anthony Barber and Clayton Alexander Barber; and her great-grandchildren Sapphire Adair Murphy, Jazmin Tunisia Murphy, Brooklyn Allyse Barber-Holt and Kairo Banks Fisher as well as a myriad of beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 from 9:30am to 11:30am at the Barnegat Funeral Home, 841 West Bay Avenue, Barnegat, NJ 08005. The funeral service will be conducted by Chaplain Mark Smith beginning at 11:30am.  Following the funeral, Ruby will be laid to rest, with her beloved husband Lawrence Milton Bottie, at BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Provinceline Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made on behalf of Ruby Barber-Bottie to the following:

1.  Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.  www.themmrf.org

2. Visiting Nurse Association Health Group.  www.vnahg.org

Ruby will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who had the pleasure of knowing her.  

(www.BarnegatFH.com)

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