Ruby Leonard Essick

In the early morning hours of February 1st , 2009, the Heavenly Father reached down with loving arms and gently took this wonderful earthly angel Ruby Leonard Essick, home to live with Him forever. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 4 at the First Baptist Church of Welcome, with Rev. Mark Blair officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. Mrs. Essick , 82 of Welcome was born August 31, 1926 in Davidson County to Robert Lee Leonard Sr. and Pearl Craver Leonard. She retired from Owens-Illinois as a crew leader and was a member of First Baptist Church of Welcome. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Emery Franklin Essick, her parents , her brothers, Herman Leonard and Robert Lee Leonard, Jr.; and her sisters , Mae Leonard Smith and Perline Leonard. She is survived by her daughter, Nita Hanes and husband, Terry, of Reedy Creek, and Melinda Hege and husband, Philip, of Midway; her grandchildren, Sumner Walser and husband, Ron , of Welcome, and Justin Hege, and wife, Leslie, of Arcadia; her brothers, Jack Leonard of Welcome, Dean Leonard of Linwood, and Boyd Leonard of Lexington; and her sisters, Lois Weaver, and Pauline Weaver, both of Welcome. Mother loved to garden and work with her flowers. She enjoyed seeing life renew itself in the Springtime. She also enjoyed visits from her friends, who always managed to lift her spirits; she loved them and her family so much. Our beautiful and beloved Mother and Grandmother is now in heaven and we will always love and miss her. We will remember her strong faith, her abiding love and her inner grace that made her such a special lady. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Tuesday at Davidson Funeral Home-Hickory Tree Chapel. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Welcome, PO Box 269 Welcome , NC 27374 or to Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Way, Winston Salem NC 27103. “Our Mother - Truly an Angel on Earth – Surely an Angel in Heaven”