Today we celebrate and pay tribute to Sister Ruby Lee
Hickman McGaffie, "the matriarch", last surviving sister of the
Hickman Family, and better known as Granny and Aunt
Ruby. Mrs. Ruby was the seventh of ten children born to
Ophelia Metcalf and Jim Hickman on December 19, 1926 in
Leesville, Louisiana. Both parents preceded her in death as well
as her husband, Anise (Papa) McGaffie, their only child, Ophelia
McGaffie Moore, and all her siblings: R.C. Hickman, LaBertha
(Aunt Bert) Hickman Myers, Viola Hickman Fisher, Lizina
Hickman Solomon, Edna Hickman Wilson, Jimmy (J.D.)
Hickman, Lonnie Hickman, Louis Charles (L.C.) Hickman, and

Francis Hickman.

Mrs. Ruby accepted Christ as her personal savior and was
baptized at an early age in Louisiana. She matriculated
through all grammar school grade levels and graduated from
high school when she was 18 years old. Her mother sent her to
live in California with her sister, Aunt Bert, to attend college
and secure employment outside of the limitations of the Jim
Crow South. She worked for a season at the Southern Pacific
Railroad and later with the U.S. Veteran's Administration as a
caregiver and cook. She retired from the federal government in
1977 in order to raise her two granddaughters, Dr. Verronda
and Dr. Tamela Moore, after her daughter, Ophelia, entered
into a 3-year medical coma. Together with her loving husband
of 53 years, they encouraged their grandchildren, nieces,
nephews, family, friends, and strangers to put their trust in
God, let nothing stop them from pursuing their dreams, and to
always look to the "Good Master, Father of us all" (God).

Mrs. Ruby began living with her granddaughter, Dr. Verronda
Moore, in Elk Grove, California in 2006. However, in May 2011
she suffered her first stroke, heart attack, and ureter
complications that brought her to an immediate health
decline. She began residing at Regency Place Assisted Living in
April 2012 to support her with recovery and around the clock
care. In March 2022, she suffered from more cardiac, lung, and
circulatory health complications and was temporarily
transferred to nursing homes before finally landing at Elk
Grove Park Senior Living Facilities in July 2022.

Granny Ruby McGaffie was an active member of the Parent

Teacher Association (PTA) for her grandchildren and great-
grandson, LaDarion Elliott, before her health declined. She was

invigorated by helping children to flourish. She believed in and

routed for everyone's best!

Mrs. Ruby Lee McGaffie leaves to cherish her
memory: Granddaughters, Dr. Verronda L. Moore and Dr.
Tamela L. Moore; two great-grandchildren, LaDarion B. Elliott
and Salayah U. D. Moore; Nephews, Murphy Fisher, John
McGaffie, George Wilson, Gregory Hickman, Darryl Hickman,
and Roger Dale Hickman; Nieces, Brenda McGaffie, Sharifa
McGaffie, June McGaffie, Connie Hickman Rogers Anderson,
and Tina Hickman; one sister-in-law, Odessa Hickman; and a
host of great-nieces, great-nephews, friends, and extended

family.