Ruby Davidson

Ruby Lee (Lewis) Davidson was welcomed into this world on January 26, 1933 to Esco Lewis Sr. and Mae Etta (Haynes) Lewis in Kokomo, Mississippi and was one of thirteen children born to them. Ruby moved to Kankakee, Illinois at the age of 18 and soon after met Lee William Davidson Sr. Ruby and Lee were married on January 13, 1954 and to this union, four sons were born: Lee William Davidson Jr., Kenneth Davidson, Glenn Eric Davidson, and Vincent Edward Davidson. After moving to Kankakee, Ruby worked several jobs until finding permanent employment at Manteno State Hospital. After several years with the State Hospital, someone told Ruby General Foods Pet Food Division was hiring. With that being said, Ruby was the first Black female to be employed by the Kankakee branch of General Foods Corporation. Subsequent to the passing of her mother, Ruby received and accepted the call of the Holy Spirit and was baptized in Jesus' name under the leadership of Pastor Ella M. Davis of the House of Prayer Apostolic Church in Kankakee, Illinois where she was a faithful and dedicated member and served on the Usher Board. One of Rubv's most notable accomplishments came when she received the honor for Woman of the Year from the House of Prayer Apostolic Church, Kankakee. Following a lucrative 40 years of employment with General Foods and the death of her husband, Lee Sr., Ruby moved to Ft. Myers, Florida. Upon arrival to Ft. Myers, Ruby reunited with Pastor Davis and the House of Prayer family. She and Pastor Davis became traveling buddies as well as prayer partners. Within a few years of moving to Ft. Myers, Ruby met and married her second husband, Zeke Crossley. Ruby was well known throughout the family and community for her stylish dressing. Whether it was in her younger years when she was going out to the bar with her husband or after she accepted her Lord and Savior, whenever and wherever Ruby was, she was styling and profiling. If you asked her how she was doing, she would respond, "I'm pretty and I'm good." Aside from serving others, Ruby enjoyed shopping at high-end boutiques and consignment stores, sewing, cooking, baking, and watching basketball and televised religious services. Ruby moved back to Illinois and resided with her son and daughter-in-law, Glenn and Kelly. Ruby Lee Davidson made her peaceful transition, after the storm, on Saturday morning, July 15, 2023 at her home with Glenn by her side. She leaves to cherish her loving memories, sons, Kenneth Davidson of Ft. Myers, Florida, Glenn (Kelly) Davidson of Bourbonnais, Illinois, and Vincent (Constance) Davidson of Bloomington, Illinois; brothers, Joe (Della) Lewis of Flint Michigan, Ray (Patsy) Lewis of Shreveport, Louisiana, Bill Lewis and Robert (Gail) Lewis of Ft. Myers, Florida, Malcolm Adams and Steve Adams of North Carolina; sisters, Mirtis Roberts and Beatrice McDonald of Ft. Myers, Florida, and Avienell (Lovell) Carr of Flint, Michigan; grandchildren, Genealyn Love, Tequila Stewart-Sellers, Pamela Johnson, Leigh Davidson, Robert Terrell, Blake Jones, Kenneth Davidson Jr., Kenitra Davidson, Shanise Davis, Chakka Hill, Tavaras Davidson, Justin Davidson, Kamil Jackson, Vincent Davidson Jr., Raven Davidson, Aliyah Davidson, and Malik (Alexis) Davidson; several great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; brothers-in-law, Nora Whitlow and Joseph Wills of Kankakee, Illinois; sisters-in law, Natalie Davidson of Delaware and D'Juana (Damon) Mallett of Kankakee, Illinois; God-Daughter, Carolyn (Roscoe) Butler of Kankakee, Illinois; special friends, Ernestine Moore of Flint, Michigan, Karen Berd of Kankakee, Illinois, and Veola Dunn of Ft. Myers, Florida; and a host of other loved ones. Ruby was preceded in death by first and second husbands, Lee Davidson Sr. and Zeke Crossley, respectively; parents, Esco Sr. and Mae Etta Lewis; son, Lee Davidson Jr.; grandson, Lamar Stewart; granddaughter, Christian Monique Campbell; great-grandson, Julian Carter Davidson; brothers, Jay Lewis and Esco Lewis Jr.; sisters, Eva Willis, Jerry Smith and Pearl Lewis; sisters-in law, Lillie Griffin, Doris Whitlow, Annie Wills, Joyce Patterson and Linda Smith; brothers-in-law, Lawrence Roberts, James Willis, Carlos Smith, John Davidson and James Davidson and special friend, "AJ."

Tributes

Ruby Davidson

January 26, 1933 - July 15, 2023