Ruby Lee Batey

Mrs. Ruby Lee Batey, 89, of Union City died Sunday, August 24, 2014, at Union City Nursing and Rehab Center. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, 2014, at Second Baptist Church in Union City with Rev. Kenneth Humphreys officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Nebo Cemetery in Hollow Rock, TN. Visitation will begin at noon on Saturday at the church. Ruby was born September 9, 1924, in Paris Tennessee. She was the first child of the late Gustava Milam-Smith and Thelma Easley, both of Hollow Rock, Tennessee. At the age of eight months, Ruby was taken to Hollow Rock, Tennessee to live with other relatives by the name of Earl and Mendolia Hudspeth. Ruby attended grade school in Hollow Rock, Tennessee and later attended Webb High School in McKenzie, Tennessee where she was above average academically. After graduating from high school, Ruby attended Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee from 1941 to 1943. Ruby was an accomplished pianist. At the age of five years old, Ruby began taking piano lessons. She continued lessons until graduating from high school where she went on to attend a music conservatory in Berkley, California. While there, she decided to have her fins between her fingers clipped to reach another octave when playing the piano. Her music abilities earned her the rights to play for Billy Eckstine and Carla Thomas. Ruby left California and moved back to Tennessee where she continued her music career. Ruby taught piano lessons and played at numerous funerals, churches and school activities. Ruby leaves to cherish her four wonderful children, Marna Davis (Joe Boyd) of Union City, Tennessee, Marva Brown of Alexandria, Virginia, Maria Spencer of Tacoma, Washington and Kevin Hudspeth of Los Angeles, California; one brother, Eric Smith (Peggy Smith) of Memphis, Tennessee; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren and a host of cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her son, Broderic Hudspeth. Rawls Funeral Home – Union City 731-885-8110