Ruby L. Aaron Whitaker

Ruby Whitaker, of Laurel, passed away peacefully at her residence on August 17, 2019. She was 85 years old. A loving Christian wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a retired RN and family nurse practitioner. She devoted her life to serving others. She was passionate about her work and known for her gentleness and caring attitude. Mrs. Ruby practiced nursing for over 30 years and was one of the first nurse practitioners in Jones county. She graduated from Charity Hospital in 1957 and received her practitioner’s license in 1974. She retired from Jones County Health Department in 1995 where she was loved by all her patients and co-workers. While at Charity Hospital, she met the love of her life, Hal H. Whitaker, where he was a resident at a boarding house across the street from the hospital. They were married on March 22, 1957. They had two daughters, Robin and Connie, whom they raised in a loving Christian home. Ruby was a member of First Baptist Calhoun where she was loved by everyone. She had devoted her life to serving the Lord in various capacities over the years. Mrs. Whitaker was preceded in death by her husband, Hal H. Whitaker, Jr; parents, Robert Ernest Aaron and Rosie Hosey Aaron; step-mother, Amelia Aaron; brother, Robert Aaron; sisters, Azalene Wade and Mary Ruth Aaron; and sons-in-law, Roy M. Ishee and James M. Cantrell, Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Robin E. Ishee and Connie E. Cantrell; granddaughter, April W. Cantrell (fiancé Donald P. West); step-grandchildren, Michael (Leslie) Ishee and Lesa Parish; great-grandchildren, Keller and Kasey Ishee, Nicole (Darrell) Patrick and Denton Parish; great-great-grandchildren, Tristan, Logan, Elizabeth and Rebekah Patrick and Prelsey and Remington Parish. Visitation will be at Memory Chapel on Monday August 19, 2019 from 5 to 8 p.m. Funeral will be Tuesday August 20, 2019 at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens. Bro. Harold Floyd and Bro. Randy Turner will officiate. Pallbearers will be, Michael Ishee, Darrell Patrick, Robert West, Kevin Busby, Lesley Broadhead and Derek Holder. Honorary pallbearers will be, John Ward, Kenley Aaron and Charles Long. We would like to express a special thank you to the TCU team and staff at Merit Health Wesley, Candice Boler of Forest General Hospice and Justin Hughes of Forest General Home Health. We greatly appreciate all of their support and help during the time we needed them and were there for us. To view and sign the online guestbook, visit: www.memorychapellaurel.com

Ruby L. Aaron Whitaker

April 30, 1934 - August 17, 2019