Mother Ruby Jean Williams, 103, of Albany, Georgia departed this life on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at her residence in Albany, Georgia.

Ruby Jean Hicks was born in Albany, Georgia, on August 26, 1920. She was the only child to the late
Robert James Hicks of Arlington, Georgia, and Ruth Woodard of Perry, Georgia. Ruby received her "Little Bird" name in a naming ceremony and had the distinction of being one of the Tribal Elders in the United Cherokee Nation organization. Though Ruby was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church of Albany, Georgia, she also felt the need to fellowship with fellow Christians from various denominations and other faiths, such as Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, and others who sought spiritual knowledge and wisdom. She once said, "Go to different churches and meet different people from different parts of town just to become familiar with new people and sights. Be friendly …"

Ruby received her education in the public schools of Dougherty County, Albany, Georgia. As an adult,
she worked as a religious librarian for The Little Library, Inc. at 120 North Jackson Street in Albany,
Georgia, whose primary purpose was to have a collection of philosophical and spiritual books to share in book discussions with patrons. Upon its closing, Ruby obtained employment working with troubled young people at the Youth Detention Center (YDC) in Albany, Georgia. Later, she worked from home as an artist and a seamstress before retiring.

"Little Bird" departed this life on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at her home. Two of her sons, Alexander and Freddie Williams (Albany, Georgia), preceded her in death, as well as her former husband, Reverend James W. Williams (Leesburg, Georgia).

She leaves the following to cherish her memories: Two daughters, Deloris Jackson Breaux and Pamela
Heard; two sons-in-law, Raymond Breaux and Michael A. Heard, Sr; daughter-in-law, Brenda Huston;
three grandsons-in-law: Johnathon Leslie, Alex Cubbage, and Khoa Vu; her closest writing buddies:
Cousin Vernon Lennard "Lennie" Morris (South Carolina), Konnie Green (Kansas), Alice Moultrie
(Albany), and Rosemary Lloyd (South Carolina). Four grandsons: Ronald Vann Jackson, II, Michael
Anthony Heard, Jr., Brandon Deon Williams, and Tyler Jackson; four granddaughters: Brandi Denise
Jackson, Nikki Diane Leslie, Reina Diana Cubbage, and Rena Denise Vu; granddaughter-in-law, Valencia Jackson; eleven great-grandsons: Ronald Vann Jackson, III, Russell Herrington Jackson, Edward Michael Heard, Ellis Milton Heard, Anthony Emilio Heard, Khai Anh Xuan Vu, Kason Rutledge, Ethan Jackson, Vann Jackson, Tyler Jackson, Jr, and Tysen Jackson; eight great-granddaughters: Niyuana Michaela Bush Heard, Amelia Rose Cubbage, Reilly Jean Cubbage, Lisbeth Leslie, Kyla Ren Vu, Ryann Valencia Jackson, Hannah Leslie, and Katelyn Simmons; plus many dear cousins, friends, neighbors, and her cat, Yellow Boy.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. in the Crown Hill Cemetery, 1907 Dawson Road, Albany, Georgia 31707. Meadows Funeral Home is in Charge of arrangements.