Ruby Gardner Simons was born February 16, 1935, in Winston-Salem, NC to the late Cleveland and Iola Gardner.  She took her rest on Friday, May 30, 2025.  She was surrounded by her family as she peacefully took her flight.  She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She loved crossword puzzles, solving jigsaw puzzles, reading, walking through the garden, eating soul food, telling stories of her memories and adventures growing up and she loved watching Jimmy Swaggart on Sunday mornings and going on car rides.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Will Simons; former husband, Willie Thomas Leak; her parents; two children, Debra "Deb" Williams and William "Sonny" Leak; and five siblings, Tenny, Cleveland "June", Leonard, Lorenzer "Lo" Gardner , and Sandra "Sue" Sullivan.

She leaves to cherish her memories her children, Jacqueline "Jackie" (Audie) Allen, Cheryl Gardner, Reginald Leak, Alfred (Christy) Leak, and one granddaughter in which she raised, Courtney (Stanley) Samerson; six siblings, Betty Lowery, Dorothy Fulton, James "Jimmy" Gardner (Edith), Raymond Gardner, Shirley Melton, and Carolyn (Otis) Hairston; seven grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at Russell Funeral Home.

A family visitation will be held from 12noon until 12:45pm Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel.  Graveside services will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. A repast following the graveside service will be held at Rising Ebenezer Baptist Church for the family.