Ruby Edwards Akin, 87, of Huntsville passed away peacefully at home on July 9, 2023 surrounded by her family.
She was born in Newbern, Tennessee where she graduated from Newbern High School. She attended The University of Tennessee at Martin and later Peabody College in Nashville.
Ruby and Joe moved to Nashville while he attended Vanderbilt University where they were married and Tony Joe, Jr. was born. This was followed by a move to Memphis, where Joe completed his residency in General Surgery and Cathy was born. In 1966, they moved to Huntsville where Joe started his general surgery practice. After their children were in college, Ruby sold real estate for Buster Frank, where she worked for several years.
She participated in a bridge club with dear lifelong friends and was a member of the Medical Alliance and the Carillon Club where she chaired many events. Ruby and Joe were long time members of the Huntsville Country Club, The Ledges and First United Methodist Church. As a family, they enjoyed attending football games, playing tennis, snow skiing, fishing, and vacationing in Colorado and Orange Beach, Alabama.
Ruby’s courage, strength, and optimism throughout her life was a legacy she left her children and grandchildren. She also taught them humility, kindness, and hard work and they have followed her example in their own lives.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Joe Akin, and her parents Dewey and Frances Edwards.
She is survived by her son; Tony Joe Akin, Jr. and wife, Stephanie, and their children Shelby, Anna, and Hannah; daughter Cathy Lee and husband, David, and their children, Parker, Hunter, and Jordan; five great-grandchildren; brother, James Edwards, and wife Patricia, and nephew, Jeffrey Edwards.
The family wished to thank her caregivers, Laura Jean Cooper and Denise Ford and also Hospice of Alabama – Jennifer Kelly and Kaitlyn Seybold.
A private burial will be held in Maple Hill Cemetery. There will be a celebration of life on Thursday, July 13, 2023 from 4:30 – 7:00 pm at The Haven, 627 Meridian Street in Huntsville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Second Mile Development, P.O. Box 2531, Huntsville, AL 35804 (https://secondmile.net/donate/).
