Ruby Ann Jeter

Our beloved sister, aunt, cousin, friend and selfless she-ro, Ruby Ann Jeter, was born May 13, 1943 in Salisbury, North Carolina to loving parents, Phillip and Zeola Jeter. She was the youngest, and feistiest, of eleven children. She was baptized at New Zion Baptist Church where her brother, Tom, continues to be a lifelong member. Ruby Ann attended Granite Quarry Elementary School and graduated from Dunbar High School in Spencer, class of 1961.

At the age of 18, she joined her eldest sister, Beulah, in New York City. Ruby Ann worked at IBM until retirement and went on to start her second career at the New York City Department of Health, providing vaccines to children among other health-related responsibilities. After retiring from the Department of Health, Ruby Ann volunteered at several charitable organizations, most notably, Jazz at Lincoln Center.

During her leisure time, Ruby Ann enjoyed bicycling, walking, fall foliage trips, apple picking, healthy eating; she was especially fond of Italian food. She also enjoyed taking cruises and travelling, including trips to Canada, Hawaii and Spain. She was devoted to family with daily phone calls to her sister, Vera, and her brother, Thomas. Her nieces and nephews were recipients of her kindness through thoughtful birthday messages, unfailing hospital visits, regular phone calls “just to see how you're doing,” showing up on social occasions and lending a hand whenever or however she could. In addition, Ruby Ann served on the executive committee of our bi-annual family reunion for many years.

Being the shero that she was, upon being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, Ruby Ann agreed to a clinical trial (and endured a grueling course of chemotherapy) because “even if it doesn't help me, it may help someone else.”

Ruby Ann departed this world on May 17, 2025 and is survived by siblings Rachel Thomas, Vera Wiggins, Thomas Jeter, and Margaret Jeter and a host of nieces, nephews, grand and great grand nieces and nephews.

Ruby's Service of Love and Remembrance has been entrusted to Benta's Funeral Home, 630 Saint Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY, 10030.

Service is scheduled for Friday, June 6 at 11:00 a.m. and will be live streamed via https://youtube.com/live/62FAPzBgQjI?feature=share.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting a donation to the Leukemia Foundation in memory of Ruby Ann Jeter “acknowledging her contribution to ongoing research.”

Condolences may be sent to Ms. Vera Wiggins, 1108 Bryce Avenue, Salisbury, NC 28144.