Mother Ruby

Rouse

Honoring The Life of Mrs. Ruby Rouse

Mrs. Ruby Rouse was born to Mrs. Queen Howard and Mr. Cleon James on May 20th, 1930 in Ocilla, Georgia. Sister Rouse transitioned from this life to her heavenly home on Monday September 21st, 2026, in Houston, Texas.

Sister Rouse and her family moved to Lawton, OK on military assignment from Germany in 1966.

As a young girl she attended schools in both Valdosta & Ocilla, Georgia. She grew up on her uncle’s farm which she stated was no easy task, but it was the price you paid to live and survive in those days. Although she worked hard there was enjoyment when she worked with her aunts to complete handmade quilts.

She met her husband Joseph Rouse, Sr. in Fitzgerald, Georgia while he was home on leave from the Army. They married four months later in Fort Polk, LA and remained married for 48 years until his death in 1999. Sister Rouse had 10 children, she has 10 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Later in life she attended Nursing Assistant School working at Comanche Memorial & Fort Sill Army Medical Center. Additionally, she worked Food Service at Fort Sill Army Medical Center.

Although she reached the accomplishment of retiring from Civil Service, her greatest accomplishment was being a person who gave her all to her Church and to anyone in need.

She cared for family members extensively until their homegoing never allowing them to be placed outside of the home. She extended this care to her husband, 2 daughters and a son.

As a child she attended Bethlehem Baptist Church in Ocilla, Georgia. During her stay in Jacksonville, Florida she attended Friendly Baptist Church and Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church. At Abyssinia she served on the Usher Board, Feeding Ministry, Sick & Shut Ministry, Prison Feeding Ministry, and Home Cleaning Ministry.

Sister Rouse was a member of Saint John’s Missionary Baptist Church since the 1980’s. A dedicated servant she was a member of Usher Board, Sick & Shut In Ministry, Feeding Ministry & feeding the Homeless on the streets of Lawton. When she lost her eyesight, she continued to serve in whatever capacity she could, “God’s dedicated servant.”

Her family felt, “She had a quality that was generous, unselfish & genuine. She was always willing to see the good in all and if you knew her then you know she thought of others before herself.”

Mrs. Rouse is preceded in death by her husband Joseph Rouse Sr., her mother, Queen A. Howard, her father, Cleon James, her brother Robert Allen, her sister Luvenia Golden, her daughters Arlinda Washington & Rose M. Barrientez, her son Joseph Rouse, Jr & her son/grandson Derrius J. Rouse. Sister Rouse and her siblings were raised by her Stepfather John Richardson.

Cherishing her memory are the survivors: Her daughters, Audery E. Santana (Caregiver), Anita McDowell, Cynthia Flemister & Stephanie Russell, her sons Darrow Rouse & Randall Rouse, her grandchildren, Christina Bessant, Jon McDowell, Wesley McDowell, Ryan McDowell, LaCresha Johnson, Roy Johnson, Trinity Price, Stanley Barrientez & Ashely Williams, her great grandchildren, Jabbar Williams, Jayla Williams, Zoey Price, Willas Rouse, Marcus Rouse, Amali Rouse, Asah Johnson, Kenya & India Jenkins, Kennedy & Alana Russell, London Barrientez, Justice Barrientez, Stanley K. Barrientez, III, Gabrielle & Asher Rouse, Saryah Johnson, her great-great grandchild, Saiyah Jarrell.

“Here’s to a life spent bringing joy & laughter to others, your life was our blessing and you will never be forgotten”