Ruby Lee Roberts Houston

Mother Houston passed away at South Georgia Medical Center on May 11, 2008. She was born on Sept. 14, 1916, in Lanier County to the late Sam and Minnie Ola Roberts. She was a loving and devoted wife of the late Willie Houston. She received her education in Lanier County Public Schools. She confessed Christ at an early age and was baptized. Mother Houston was a loyal and dedicated child of God and a faithful servant of the Lord. She was employed as a food service assistant for many years in the Lanier County Public School System. She later retired as a food service assistant with the Lowndes County Head Start Program. Mother Houston was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. She was a real lady that leaves a legacy of love and kindness. Her life was one of service, giving and helping the needy. Some that were sick and shut-in, she took care of them in her home. She loved and cherished her family, enjoyed cooking and her “favorite” hobby was baking different types of cakes. She was the rock of the family and will always be loved and missed dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Houston, mother and father, Sam and Minnie Ola Roberts, brother, Enoch Roberts, and two sisters, Ada Mae Miller and Sammie Lee (Ted) Miller. She leaves to love and cherish her memories three daughters, Minnie Lee Vaughn, Thousand Oaks, Calif.; Ernestine (Charlie) Carter, Naylor, Ga., Deborah (Earnest) Carter, Valdosta; four sons, Huris (Betty) Houston, Naylor, Bishop Cessor (Retta) Houston, Sr., Naylor, Willie E. (JoAnn) Houston, Crawfordville, Fla.; Vinson (Elaine) Houston, Valdosta; two sisters, Rebertha Sirmans, Detroit, Mich.; Allene (Rev. Clark) Hardwick, Detroit, Mich.; one brother, Sam (Debra) Roberts, Huntsville, Ala.; three sisters-in-law, Bernice Houston; Rutha Mae Houston, Pauline Roberts; a special friend, Letha Moore; 19 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, god-children, other in-laws and sorrowing friends. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, 2008, at New Hopewell Baptist Church. The Rev. Johnny Brown is Pastor and Bishop Cessor Houston Sr. will officiate. Burial will follow in the Charles Knight Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. this evening at the Harrington Chapel in Valdosta. — Harrington Funeral Home