Ruby Pulliam Peterson, 77, died on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

She and her twin sister, Ruth Pulliam Mayfield, were born on Aug. 21, 1941 to Bertha Pulliam Wilson in Davie County. They also attended school in Davie County. The twins were adopted and raised by their maternal grandparents, Will and Sarah Jones Pulliam.

She moved to New York City where she met and married Henry Peterson Jr. They believed in building their community and uplifting people, ideals which led them to join the Nation of Islam. For a brief time they lived in North Carolina where they helped to establish the NOI’s mosque in Winston-Salem. They returned to New York where she obtained an associate’s degree while raising their six children. After returning to North Carolina, the family joined New Bethel Baptist Church where she sang in the choir. She worked at Reynolds Health Center as a phlebotomist and medical records technician for 20 years. She was a strong, independent and loving woman, not wealthy but rich in spirit. She always found a way to make somthing out of nothing. She opened her home to those in need of a place to stay, and anything she had was shared with those she saw in need. She was close to family, making frequent visits, and treated friends as family. She encouraged her children to believe in God, value education and to work hard to accomplish goals.

She was preceded in death by: her husband; parents; siblings, Ruth Mayfield and brothers James “Jimmy” Wilson and William “Chris” Wilson.

Survivors: her 6 children, Mebeenah Peterson (who cared for her in her final years), Sheria Peterson, Ruhiya Peterson, Chad (Disa) Muhammad, Saud Peterson and Faruq (Dawnmarie) Peterson; 19 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a brother, James Phillip Clement; 2 sisters-in-law, Linda Wilson and Haniyyah Muhammad; a brother-in-law, Arthur Muhammad; and numerous nices, nephews, cousins and friends.

Her funeral service was held on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. at Graham Funeral Home. The Rev. Dennis Bishop officiated. The family received friends following the service.

Condolences: www.GrahamFuneralHome.net.