Ruby M. Haslerig

Ruby Mae Willingham-Haslerig was born on November 11, 1916 to the union of the late George S. and Lula Mae Stewart and gracefully departed March 8, 2017 at the Golden Age of 100. Ruby was preceded in death by her first husband of 12 years, Oscar Willingham, Jr. and her second husband of 32 years, Jacob W. Haslerig, maternal Grandmother Pricilla Grier, maternal Grandfather Charlie Grier, paternal Grandmother Adeline Stewart and paternal Grandfather John Stewart, her three siblings – Rudolph Stewart, his beloved wife, Dorothy, Frankie Halbert, Priscilla Lee and her husband, James, granddaughter, Tamara A. Price Clarke.

Our Mother accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Friendship Baptist Church in Crawfordville, Ga. during The Annual Revival.

Ruby’s Mother, Lula migrated north with her cousin, to Cincinnati around 1927, to escape Jim Crow, lynching, and inferior education in the south. She left her children in the care of her own mother and father (Priscilla and Charlie Grier) in Crawfordville on their sharecropping cotton farm, where Ruby witnessed the final destruction of the southern cotton economy by the boll weevil.

Ruby was the first of Lula’s four children to be brought to Cincinnatiin 1931, during The Great Depression. They lived in The East End, Lula made a living managing an unlicensed employment service and selling meals in her home to boarders she rented rooms to. When Negroes moved from “The Bottoms” into the West End of Cincinnati, Ruby, a 7th grader, integrated Oyler School. She felt alone and isolated, but managed to earn exceptional grades. Upon entering Woodward High School, she continued to excel but left school after the 11th grade, to go to work to help her Mother. Ruby joined Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” National Youth Administration (NYA), where she earned $10 to $25 monthly.

She met, fell in love with and married Oscar Willingham Jr., from Steele Sub Division in 1937. Their union, was blessed with four children: Yvonne B., Marvin V, Oscar and Saundra A. Oscar Willingham bought the house for his family at 2036 W. North Bend Road. He worked as a cement contractor to provide for his family. Across the street from the house a new “mission” Catholic Church, St. Richard was built, and the family converted to Catholicism. In 1949 Oscar Willingham Jr. tragically lost his life in a construction accident, leaving Ruby widowed to raise their four children.

In 1951, Ruby met Jacob W. Haslerig, from Middlesboro, KY, who she met while he was contracted to remodel her kitchen. They fell in love and married that same year. Her children became his children and their union was blessed with four more children: Clinton E., Jacob W. III, Victoria and Julie R. To continue the spiritual and educational journey of the family, Jacob converted to Catholicism and together they raised their eight children in the Catholic schools of Cincinnati.

Ruby, dedicated her life to her family. Starting with the most endearing loving friendship with her siblings. She instilled the importance of a great education, the virtues of a Christian life, and the benefits of balanced nutrition, extending her love of gardening fresh fruits and vegetables to all her children. She always said “you can spend your money on medicine or spend it on good food”. Ruby, graced all 25 of her grandchildren with her love and care providing a stern but loving retreat for each of them, better known as “The Good Time House”!

Ruby worked in the Dietary Departments at St. Francis Hospital and retired from Provident Hospital in 1986. Upon retirement, she truly enjoyed life, traveling the United States, serving her parish of St. Clare, as a Eucharistic Minister, serving as Secretary of The West College Hill Civic Association, exercised regularly at the YWCA and had fun as a member of “The Red Hat Society”. Her home was warm reflecting her sense of style and to dine at her table was a thing of beauty, as she poured her love and creativity into the meals she prepared for her family and friends. A gathering in her home was always special.

In addition to her family, Ruby was always active in advancing conditions for African Americans and her neighborhood, specifically. Ruby worked the polls, served as the Secretary for the Civic Association of Steele Subdivision. Ruby worked as a Community Organizer in the “War on Poverty” to ensure improvements to the community including the renaming of the community to West College Hill. Ruby lived through eighteen U.S. Presidents. Woodrow Wilson was President the year she was born and she lived to see Barack H. Obama inaugurated and serve eight years.

She leaves doctors, educators, engineers, scientist, musicians, technicians, community organizers, professional athletes, attorney’s and entrepreneurs as her legacy to cherish and honor her: 8 children, Yvonne Price, (Wesley), Marvin Willingham (Janice), Oscar Willingham III (Carol), Saundra Willingham,Clinton Haslerig (Susan), Jacob W. Haslerig III, Victoria Parks and Julie Posey; grandchildren, Tanya Price, Andrea Ruddy (Michael), Daryl Price, Shamaya Price, Maliyo Price; Gerald Mann, Amirou Willingham, Babatu Willingham (Elisa), Natambu Willingham; Cynthia Richardson (Tyrone) , Blake Willingham, Yahaya Willingham (Michele), Layla Willingham, Tiyanna Willingham, Enye Willingham; Melanie Willingham-Jaggers; Coy Haslerig, Mali Haslerig, Siduri Haslerig (Nik); Carmen Parks; Kendall Holmes (Kendall), Shaniese Ruffin (Michael), Julian Posey (Donna), and DeVier Posey (Kierra), 28 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren; nieces and nephews, Brenda Ligons, Barry Lee, Dianne Blair, Peggy Orr (Lindsey), Jennifer McNeal (Kenny), Lori Lee, Barbara Jean (Rick) Patricia Mann, Pam Tillman, Eugenia Halbert and a host of friends.