Ruby Lee Lovett

Remembering Ruby Lee Howard Lovett
Ruby Lee Howard was born March 5, 1934, in Strong, Arkansas to the late L.G. Howard and Annie Bell Dixon Howard. On December 25, 2025, Christmas morning, God called her home to glory at the age of 91 where she was reunited with the love of her life, Rev. Charles Lovett.
Ruby was the oldest of five children and grew up in Louann, El Dorado, and Strong, Arkansas. On November 29, 1952, she united in marriage with Charles Lewis Lovett, beginning a beautiful love story that spanned over 72 years of marriage. Their union was blessed with eleven children, all of whom were raised in a loving household rooted in faith, unity, and education.
She was a talented, resourceful, and deeply creative woman whose skills sustained her family through both fruitful and lean seasons. As part of a farming family, she found practical solutions wherever they were needed-famously creating what the family affectionately called the first "water bottle" for long days in the fields. She reused empty Joy dishwashing soap bottles, froze the water inside, and once the ice melted, the squirt top provided refreshing, ice-cold water. It was a small invention that reflected her ingenuity and care for those she loved.
She found great joy in cooking, canning, and baking, and her homemade biscuits were legendary made with love and remembered with smiles. A lifelong learner, she held a deep respect for education and continually sought to grow and master new skills. That passion became part of her legacy, as she instilled a love of learning that spanned three generations of her family.
Ruby accepted Christ at a young age and lived her life firmly rooted in faith. She faithfully served the African Methodist Episcopal Church in many roles over the years. At Curry Chapel A.M.E. Church, she was a devoted choir member and served diligently as church secretary.
In 1973, when her husband was called into the ministry, they began a shared ministerial journey within the A.M.E. Church, serving in the South Arkansas Conference of the A.M.E. 12th Episcopal District. Together, First Lady Ruby and Rev. Lovett pastored numerous congregations, including Campground and Quinn A.M.E. in Crossett, Soldiers Chapel A.M.E. in Hamburg, Palestine and Hampton Chapel, Free Hope, and Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church in Strong, Arkansas. Ruby also served as secretary of the Women's Missionary Society of the South Arkansas Conference, offering her time, talents, and steadfast dedication in service to others. As First Lady, she was known for her elegant sense of style, often wearing beautiful attire and hats that were widely admired and lovingly complimented by those around her. After she and Rev. Lovett retired from pastoring congregations, they returned home to Curry Chapel, where Ruby continued to serve faithfully until her passing.
Her professional life was devoted to education. Ruby worked in the Strong School District for more than 50 years and truly loved being among the students. She began her career as custodial staff at Gardner Elementary School and, through determination and skill, advanced into administrative support roles in both the elementary and high schools. She embraced educational advancements and skillfully adapted to the working styles of numerous superintendents, principals, and teachers. She shepherded generations of students through the Strong school system, blending her trademark "old-school" firmness with deep love and compassion for their well-being. Ruby was an avid supporter of the high school sports teams and proudly wore her blue (her favorite color) and white school colors with pride. Ruby retired from the district in May 2020.
As a community activist, she generously shared her strong administrative skills while serving as secretary of the local NAACP chapter.
Ruby carried herself with a quiet elegance, often commanding a room with a glance or the gentle tilt of her head. She was observant and curious, forthright and unwavering in her beliefs, and deeply grounded in who she was.
Though we will miss her earthly presence more than words can express, we take comfort and joy in carrying forward the legacy she leaves behind-a legacy of faith, service, love, and strength-rooted in the family that she and Charles so lovingly planted and nurtured together.
Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two daughters, Sherry Lovett and Annie Faye Scott; one son, Edward Lovett; Two brothers, Elgin "Lil Brother" Howard and Ben Howard; and two sisters, Daisie Howard Loggin and Earnestine Howard. Ruby was the first born into her earthly family, and the last to reunite with her family in glory.
Her memory will be cherished by her 8 children, Evelyn Thomas and Josephine Ward (Marvin) of Strong; Gloria Maddox of Indianapolis, IN; Linda Lovett of Little Rock, AR; Barbara Lark (Reginald) of El Dorado, AR; Donald Lovett (Sandy) of Woodbridge, VA; Samuel Lovett (Erica) of Virginia Beach, VA; Betty Lovett (Tyrone) of Lithia Springs, GA; her 19 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.