Ruby Marie Gulley was a resident of Grand Bay, Alabama, and at the age of 75 passed away on Thursday, December 20, 2018. She is survived by her husband, Winston Gulley, children, Christy Marie (Lynn) Daniels, Tracy Leigh (Bart Nelson) Gulley and Winston Robert Gulley, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sister, Sharon Jardee, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Ruby was born December 11, 1943 in Mobile Alabama and was a member of Friendship Baptist Church. She was an incredible local artist full of energy and the desire to give back to her community. For Ruby, there was never a project too big or a project turned away. She was well known for her faith in God, magnificent heart, charitable nature, and candid humor. However, of all her amazing attributes, her laugh will be missed most of all.
It only fits to share some information on how Ruby came into the newspaper business. To those who do not know, I purchased The Connection Newspaper from Mrs. Ruby in August of 2016. Before that date, Ruby spent a lot of time in the industry and lived for, as Sharon Jardee would say, those last minute edits. Both Sharon and Ruby started in the newspaper industry together in Texas and when they moved to Alabama went to work for Richard Rankin’s Mobile County News. Sharon would break away into the beauty industry as Ruby would continue in the newspaper industry creating and building papers with the Mobile County news, Bay News, and The Connection Newspaper. For many years Ruby would create publications independently for government agencies and others as well as run her newspaper; The Connection Newspaper being the last publication that she owned. Ruby was a teacher as well, but not in the school setting way that many would describe a teacher. When she first approached me about taking over the paper, she approached in a manner that she wanted to teach me about the concept and creation process of the paper. Throughout the two years that it took to convince me to dive into the business, I learned a ton by just sitting next to her and hearing her talk about the paper, reasons for formatting a certain way, and encouragement that I could do it even though I had never done it before. I am not sure if she told this to anyone else, but she said, “Once you get ink on your hands you’ll get it in your heart.” It is the truth. I love the paper and I am very thankful for Mrs. Ruby teaching me so much about it to be able to continue it. If I take anything away from her life I take this; understand that life has an end and it is not what you accomplish on this Earth but what you can help others accomplish after you have gone. Mrs. Ruby continues to live on by what she has given me to help accomplish month after month in the paper. Please continue to pray for the Gulley family and friends, and Mrs. Ruby will be dearly missed.
