Ruby Lee Thornton

Ruby Lee was born on August 20, 1927, in Arkadelphia to the union of Bennie and Mary B. Dickerson Smith. She was a life-long member of Pleasant Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Joan Community.

She worked at Hours of Joy Daycare Center in Arkadelphia for several years until she retired. In 2017, she made her new home at Courtyard Gardens. At Courtyard she made many new friends and enjoyed arts/crafts, word finds, and crossword puzzles. She always enjoyed visits from family and friends.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Maco Thornton and her sister, Mattie Rene Newburn.

Ruby leaves fond memories with her sons, Prince Lee Eason (Kathalean) of Malvern, AR and Bennie Thornton of Arkadelphia, AR; her bonus daughter, Bobbi Thornton of Gurdon, AR; five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Alfred Jerry Smith of Arkadelphia and John Earl Perry (Willie Mae) Ford, TX. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Visitation will be Friday, July 16, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home.

Services to remember her life will be shared graveside at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at the Piney Grove Cemetery with Rev. Natalie Thomas, the eulogist.

Pallbearers will be Michael Eason, Brandon Eason, Frederick Eason, Patrick Eason, Henry Beavers, Corey Thornton, Carl Cummings and Fletcher Tinch. Honorary pallbearers will be Prince Lee Eason, Bennie Thornton, Alfred Jerry Smith and John Earl Perry.