Ruby Nell Booker

Ruby Nell Booker was born on June 17, 1940, in Picayune, Mississippi to Samuel and Donnie Booker. She was the first of six children. As the oldest she had the responsibility of caring for her other siblings when her mother went to work. She became the mother, in a way, to her five siblings. When her father died, she was left with more responsibilities as her mother had to go to work to provide for her family. But despite the challenges, she graduated from George Washington Carver Senior High School in New Orleans in 1960 and was crowned Queen of the homecoming court for 1959-60. She believed in education and went on to Southern University and graduated in 1972 and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She then went on to receive a master's degree from Xavier University in 1981. She believed in education and believed everyone should have access to education, even if it was just reading a book. She was an avid book reader and collected many different types of books but especially loved African American history books. Ruby did not just accomplish goals for herself but stood up for what was right. She sat at the counter at Woolworth's to fight for her rights but also for those of other black people. She attended rallies, was a member of ACORN and other local organizations, and participated in the Jena Six march in Jena, LA in 2007 with her sister, Rosa and her niece, Donna.
She has always been passionate about her heritage, and she's always been a light to many people but especially the children she counseled at St. Alphonsus School in New Orleans for over 30 years. She also believed in supporting many different nonprofits and humanitarian groups such as Covenant House and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, Covenant House, American Civil Liberties Union, Habitat for Humanity, the American Indian College Fund, Southern Poverty Law Center, Native American Rights Fund. and the United Negro College Fund.
When Hurricane Katrina happened, it brought about a lot of change. She evacuated and stayed in Lafayette for a while but then moved to Breaux Bridge with her sister Rosa for almost 10 years. She made many lasting friendships of all ages. Then they moved closer to her only son, Burnell, and his family to Katy, TX. This would be where she would rest after a long battle with uterine cancer and Dementia.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father Samuel and Donnie Booker, her sister, Mae Lee Booker, and her brother, Samuel Booker, Jr. She is survived by her son, Burnell Bell (Kim), grandchildren, Kayla Malone Bell and Burnell Ramsey Bell, sisters: Sallie Marrero, Rosa Ganier, and Janice Gardner (Hosea II). Nieces and Nephews: Nayon Michael and Dayna Marrero; Donna Ganier Ricard and Erika Ganier; Hosea Gardner, III, Sheri Harris and Christopher Gardner; Samuel and Harold Booker. She is also survived by many friends and family.
Relatives and friends of the family are all invited to attend her Tribute Visitation on Friday, March 28, 2025, 6:00PM - 8:00PM, at Professional Funeral Services, 1449 N. Claiborne Ave, NOLA. Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, 10:00AM, at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 4000 Norman Mayer Ave, NOLA.