Ruby Lee Brown

Ruby Lee Burns Brown was born in Moore County, North Carolina on October 3, 1936 as the first of five children born to Ardena Sanders Burns and Clemith Burns. Ruby Burns attended Robbins Elementary and then Elise High School in Robbins, NC. She met her future husband Fred during her senior year while working for college money at Burn's Grill near Robbins crossroads. She graduated from Elise as the salutatorian – with only 1 B (which she blamed squarely on distraction by Fred). In 1957, while attending Catawba College, she and Fred were married. She graduated from Catawba with honors. When she was 27 years old, her father Clemith passed away and she helped her mother support the rest of the family with whatever funds she could make. Ruby went on to attend North Carolina State University where she earned a Masters degree in Chemistry. After college, she worked as an analytical chemist for the US Government at both the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in St. Louis and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta.

Guided by her strong Christian faith, she had a genuine interest in the well being of others and treated everyone she met with respect and kindness. She simply chose to see the good in all things.

In 2009, she lost her husband of 52 years – and spent the next 16 years focused on her children and grandchildren.

She passed away on December 15, 2025… on her wedding anniversary.

She is survived by her 2 children: Neil Brown and wife Chau, Todd Brown and wife Valerie and her 5 grand-children Chloe, Stella, Summer, Jason and Sophia Brown, Sisters: Minnie Ritter, Virginia and husband Bill Montjoy, Anise and Robert Castleberry and Sister-in-law Nita Burns (widow of her only brother James) of Carrolton, Ga.

She was a blessing beyond measure and will be forever missed.

Funeral Service will be 2 PM, Monday, December 22, 2025 at Calvary Baptist Church, 549 Plank Rd. Carthage, NC. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 1 PM and following the Committal in the church fellowship hall.

Condolences on line at pinesfunerals.com

Kennedy Funeral Home is honored to serve the Brown family.