Ruby Lee Exum, affectionately known to all as Granny, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2025, at the age of 98, in Dothan, Alabama. Born on September 23, 1926, in Dale County, Alabama, Ruby’s warm presence and spirited nature will be profoundly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Granny Ruby was a force of nature, a woman whose spirit was as vibrant as the gardens she tended with such care. She was the sweetest Christian lady you’d ever meet, with a faith so strong it could move mountains. She was the backbone of her family, stepping up to help raise her younger siblings after their mother passed away, proving early on that she was as tough as nails with a heart of gold.
Preceded in death by her beloved husband, Web Exum; her son-in-law, Billy Mims; her granddaughter, Lynn Morrison; her great-granddaughters, Avery Exum and Cassy Brooks; her parents, Oscar and Ellen Blankenship Brooks; her sisters, Ruth Hearn and Francis Duke; and her brothers, Pete Brooks, Frank Brooks, Bill Brooks, and Houston Brooks, Ruby was the last survivor of her siblings. Her memory will live on through her loving family.
Ruby is survived by her daughter, Ellen Clark (Earl), and her son, Danny Exum (Gail); grandchildren, Johnny Mims (Amanda), Brandy Exum (Mickey), Johnathan Exum (Mondae), and Eric Exum (Dawn); 11 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren, who will carry forward her spirit of love and kindness. Ruby also leaves behind special friends Larry Dulaney and Kasey Morris, who were dear to her heart.
A special thank you is extended to the nurses and staff at Extendicare Health and Rehab for loving Granny as their own. You are the unsung heroes who provided comfort and care with a smile that matched her own.
Known for her love of flowers, Ruby found joy in helping in the garden and playing dominos. Her laughter was a common sound when she was with her grandchildren or attending the Cottonwood Senior Citizen Center. Ruby’s adventurous spirit shone through her enjoyment of fishing and her participation in delivering meals to homebound seniors with Kasey. Even in her quiet moments, she found solace in drinking coffee and reading her Bible.
Funeral Services for Ruby Lee Exum will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Ward Wilson Funeral Home with Earl Clark officiating. She will be laid to rest at Howard Grove Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to gather and share memories from 1:30 p.m. until the start of the service at the funeral home.
