“A Touch From Jesus’
Rubye Mae Doss must surely have been touched by Jesus with music in her soul, indeed throughout her life she had a song in her heart and words of poetry on her lips. She extended the joy of family to her late parents, Julia G. and Rev. John A. Doss., the fourth child of what would be six children and the second girl in what would become a musical trio singing the Songs of Zion. Rubye, played the piano and sang almost before her feet could reach the piano pedals. Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, a daughter of the parsonage she began her life in the church and made it official at a very early age as she sought her salvation in the Lord at Lesley Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. She attended several churches in her early life when the family travelled with her father as he pastored various CME Churches. Often, she and her five (5) brothers and sisters were the only choir the church would have as Mrs. Doss served as the pianist. When Rev. and Mrs. Doss decided to settle in Tuscumbia, even though he continued to pastor distant churches, Rubye and her siblings settled in as permanent students at Trenholm High School where Rubye graduated in the class of 1947.
Rubye, began her playing and singing career early. She became a church musician at the age of 12 and later she and her two sisters, known as the “Doss Sisters” appeared on the Saturday morning TV Gospel show hosted by Tom Jones on the WOWL TV Station in Florence, AL. Rubye Doss Freeman and the late Reverend Elijah Davis met when she returned to college as a student at Lane College. She had previously attended Alabama State College. Rev. Davis, an itinerant minister in the CME Church followed his call to preach and serve the church at various pastorates throughout the United States, and Rubye served as his wife and often the musician and always a choir member at the numerous churches he served. Together they raised her only child, her beloved Clifford, who preceded her in death.
Rubye had graduated from Lane with a bachelor’s degree in Education, and a teaching certificate in Elementary Education. She taught school in seven states in more than 15 school systems becoming a “Master Teacher” and earning a master’s degree in Education and several teaching awards. She retired from the Kansas City Public School Systems after serving there for 11 years with a total of more than 30 years teaching experience. In each state and at each church she taught piano and sometimes voice to all who would learn, and she started many children and youth choirs. She was given the opportunity to become a student and prodigy of the Julliard School of Music while at Lane but because of family obligations she decided to teach and serve others and so she shared her gift of music by teaching others. She wrote music and poetry prolifically, even producing an album, ‘A Touch From Jesus’!
When Rubye attended Alabama State she met a young man named Matthew Peach as they traveled by train from Montgomery, AL. Both were on their way home for the Christmas break. He was attending Tuskegee Institute and going home to Missouri, she was returning to Tuscumbia. They pursued a brief relationship but alas it ended and they continued their lives separately. More than forty (40) years later they met again in Missouri and this time they held on to each other, renewed their love and started a life together. Matt and Rubye shared a marriage and home for 33 years until he departed this earthly life to wait for her to join him in their eternal home in glory. Rubye moved back to Alabama where she began and reunited with Lesley Temple where she remained a faithful member until she left to join Matt again, early Saturday morning on May 25th. She is now reunited with her cherished Matt and beloved Clifford along with her mother and father and sister, Alberta Doss Gore and brothers Charles, George and Clifford Doss.
Rubye leaves to cherish her legacy of love, her “baby” sister, Dr. Alyce (Lelton) Brown of Tuscumbia, AL; brothers and sisters-in-law, Joe and Hazel Peach of Wyncote, PA and Nehemiah and Eldora Davis of Southaven, MS; one stepdaughter, Sheri Peach of Lee Summit, MO; a daughter -in-law, Deborah Davis of Detroit, MI and one stepdaughter-in-law, Ora Peach of Dallas, TX; eight adult grandchildren: Trista Mitchell, Kamille Mitchell, Rubye Davis, Kenneth Mitchell and Karla Mitchell, all of Detroit, MI; Travis Mitchell, Los Angeles, CA.; Christy Peach and Justin Peach, Dallas, TX; 15 great- grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren, and a loving host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. A special group of Caregivers who became friends from Kansas City, MO to Tuscumbia, Alabama: Linda Alexandria, Linda Armstead, Linda Bey, Kim Cole, Shirley Davies, Carol Goodall, Dana Hanks, Elaine Jones and her beloved Roger!
Visitation with the family will be tonight from 7 to 8 at Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. Funeral will be Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 1 p.m. at Lesley Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Tuscumbia, with Reverend Dr. Willie Owens officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Tuscumbia. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Public viewing will be today from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, directing.
