Ruby I. Johnson

October 10, 1933 - May 5, 2022

Ruby Ianthe Osbourne was born on October 10, 1933, in Mount Standfast, Saint James, Barbados, West Indies. Ruby was the third of twelve children, and her parents were the late Winifred Hope Osbourne and St. Clair Augustus Osbourne. She was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Conrad “Ralph” Johnson; four siblings that passed in infancy; her brother Neville Osbourne and her sister Caroll “Maylene” Prescod. Ruby attended St. Albans Girls School, Barbados and subsequently immigrated to the United States in 1953. She completed her High School education in the United States and graduated from Girls High School in Brooklyn, New York. Ruby resided in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn New York, with her uncle, the late James “Jimmy” Osbourne. Ruby attended Salem United Methodist Church located in Harlem, New York, where she met Conrad “Ralph” Johnson in 1957. Ralph was born in Boscobel, Saint Peter, Barbados, West Indies. Ruby and Ralph were married on September 5, 1959. In 1962, they welcomed their daughter, Denise into the world. In 1992, Ruby and Ralph became the esteemed grandparents of Adéola. Ruby was a stay-at-home mother and occasionally worked in the evenings (for a few hours) when Ralph got home from work. After Denise started elementary school, Ruby started working part-time and she would arrive home shortly after Denise (who was upstairs with Mother Bourne). Ruby worked on a per diem basis for the New York City Transit Authority, and she had an extraordinary work-ethic. Her supervisors took notice- they were incredibly pleased with her performance and work product. Ruby was soon offered a full-time position and began her tenure in the Payroll Division. For more than twenty years she served as an Assistant (and confidant) to a number of Superintendents who specifically requested that Ruby be on their team. In 1990, Ruby retired from the New York City Transit Authority. She often mused, “I don’t know where I found time to go to work”! Ruby and Ralph immensely enjoyed traveling and they were Cruise enthusiasts. Cruising to the destinations of the world from Alaska, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Central America or Cruising in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul (to name a few ports of call). Ruby and Ralph also took a bus trip from New York to the Grand-Canyon. Ruby enjoyed the scenery and the serenity of bus and train excursions. They also traveled to the Motherland- Ghana, The Ivory Coast, and Egypt. Additionally, Ruby and Ralph journeyed to the Holy Land, the birthplace of their Savior and Redeemer. Ruby was baptized in the Jordan River. Ruby and Ralph traveled to every destination on their bucket list with the exception of Australia and New Zealand (Ralph passed prior to that trip). What a legacy! Ruby was a believer and a faithful member of Fenimore Street United Methodist Church. She was affectionately known as Sister Ruby to the congregation. Brother “J” on the other hand, affectionately called his bride of 51 years, Sister “Rubes” when talking to friends and family. Ruby served for more than four decades at “Fenimore” in various capacities: • One of the founding members of the Gospel Chorus • President (and one of the founding members) of the Travel Club • President (and one of the founding members) of the Young Adult Group • President (and one of the founding members) of the Theater Group (On/Off Broadway Excursions) • Member of the Administrative Board • Member of the Finance Committee • Member of the United Methodist Women (to name a few areas of service). Ruby and Ralph moved to Florida in 2010 and began worshipping at Palms West Alliance Church now Oasis Church. On May 5, 2022, Ruby peacefully went home to be with her Lord. Ruby’s loving memory will be cherished by her daughter, Denise “Sparkle Plenty” Johnson-Hopkins, son-in-Law, Michael “Mykal” Hopkins, granddaughter, Adéola Hopkins, brother, Carlisle “Wasky” Osbourne, sister, Eloise “Malvina” Headley, sister, Phyllis Clinton, sister, Julie Osbourne, sister, Esther Bunbury (Courtney); sister-in-law, Olga Johnson; brother-in-law, Vere Prescod; special nieces, Heather Osbourne, Cherryann Osbourne-Raiford, Dawn Johnson; special nephews, Everlone Clinton, Anderson Clinton; special cousins Gladys Griffith, Yvonne Forde, Olga Clinton, Thelma Olukuewu, Maulana Murray; godsons, Rawle Eastmond, Darcey Browne; special friends, Joseph “Joe” Martin, Enid Harewood, Valentine Boyce, Abiodun & Lealia Adeagbo, Doris Mendez-Weeks, Vinette Tracey, Glenner Strachn, Doreen Thomas, Cora White, Jannie Watson, Glynn Best, Cecil & Agatha Watson, Saundra Brown, Lorna Baptiste, Eudine Scantlebury, Charles Clarke, Winston Crosbie, Henry Lewis, Velma Williams, Carol Osgood, Ellen Cox; special neighbors, Alphonso Holm, Andrea Ronga; Brothers and Sisters of Fenimore Street United Methodist Church; Members of Christopher C. Blenman Senior Center; Members of Royal Palm Beach Young at Heart; and a host of relatives and friends. Ruby will also be missed by her canine pal, Einstein. Please note that the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of Ruby I. Johnson to: American Heart Association https://www.heart.org Or American Stroke Association P.O. Box 840692 Dallas, TX 75284-0692 https://www.stroke.org Acknowledgement The Family of Ruby Ianthe Johnson wishes to express our sincere thanks for your expressions of love during our season of bereavement. Every Blessing, The Family. 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