Ruby Alice Hoefer entered her eternal rest on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at her residence in Columbia, South Carolina. Born in Upper Richland County, Columbia, South Carolina on June 20, 1937, Ruby was the tenth child born to the late Zellie and Geneva Gantt Hoefer.
Ruby was educated in the public schools of Richland County. Upon graduation, she relocated to Brooklyn, New York. While residing in New York, she worked as a telephone Switch Operator for the City of New York for over 20 years. In 1978, she returned to South Carolina and began working for the City of Columbia Water Department from which she retired.
Ruby accepted Christ as her Savior at the early age of thirteen (13) and joined Zion Chapel Missionary Baptist Church #1 under the leadership of the late Arthur B. Bailey. She was a faithful and active member of the choir for many years.
Ruby’s greatest joy was her family. She would have Saturday classes for the girls. The class was on “How to be a Lady.” A few things taught in the classes were how to wear lip stick and how to sit properly in a dress. Another class was taught on “how-to walk-in heels”; during this session of the class, you could not drop the book off the top of your head, or you would have to start over. As we walked, she would say, “You are walking like a cowboy, standup straight and walk like a runway model.”
Ruby was always very fashionable, and she loved to listen to jazz music. She loved her flowers and loved working in her garden and her yard. She also enjoyed shopping and fine dining and cuisine. Her favorite things to do were to travel with and spend time with family and friends.
For those of you who knew Ruby, you knew that she was classy, sassy, proud and a dignified woman. She was especially proud of her heritage and being a “Hoefer”. Ruby would often say “I’m a real Hoefer.” She was sure of what it was and what it meant to be a part of the Hoefer lineage. She was the last elder of our tribe and she will be deeply missed by all who loved and knew her. Ode to Ruby Alice Hoefer, our family’s “Matriarch.”
Ms. Hoefer was also preceded in death by her nine siblings, brothers, Rev. Uzell Hoefer, Eddie Hoefer and Arthur Hofer, Sr.; sisters, Kissiah H. Bookert, Vonetta H. Seals, Bessie H. Davis, Dorothy H. Harris, Ethel Mae H. English, Bertie Lee H. Hall.
Those cherishing her fond and precious memories are her daughters, Joyce Mullen of Irmo, SC; Peggy Rodoson, Vicki (Jennis) Cruel, Linda Kershaw, LaToya Hoefer and Wendy Washington, all of Columbia, SC; her best friend, Rodena (Willie Dean) Tillman; a host of nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great nieces, great-great nephews, great-great nieces and other loving relatives and dear friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.
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