Funeral Mass for Rubye Rossie Sherman, 92, of Greenville will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. She quietly left her earthly home on Saturday, February 2. Burial will be the Greenville Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
Rubye leaves a wonderful legacy of uncommon grace and love. “When you look good, you feel better,” was her mantra. But, Rubye’s love of beauty was not superficial. All who knew her felt her positive aura and her soft touch.
Born June 9, 1926, the seventh of eight children of Lebanese immigrants, Nazira Hallal Rossie and Shikralla ”Sam” Rossie in Shaw, Mississippi, Rubye spent a happy childhood with six sisters and one brother in that small close-knit community. After graduating from Shaw High School, Rubye attended Ursuline College in Ohio and Delta State Teachers College in Cleveland, Mississippi.
In August of 1949, when Rubye married the love of her life, Joseph “Joe” Peter Sherman of Greenville, two Lebanese families were made one. Rubye and Joe built a home, reared their three children and became active in the Greenville community. They remained devoted to St Joseph’s Catholic Church throughout their lives. They extended Lebanese Delta hospitality to countless friends and even to strangers. Rubye’s renowned kibbee and grape leaves on the menu and her considerable talent on the piano made their home a popular place for family and friends to celebrate milestones.
Rubye not only excelled as a talented hostess and homemaker, but she also worked outside her home in several positions. Her workplaces included the Greenville Airbase, Arkansas Best Freight, and Head Start where she witnessed Robert Kennedy during his famous visit to the Mississippi Delta. In 1960, the Shermans opened Delta Wholesale, Mississippi’s first discount store,” selling everything from toothpicks to diamonds,” where Rubye was, quite appropriately, the jewelry buyer. Her talents extended further when Joe opened the Sports Parlor in 1969, and she created the most popular item on the menu, a chili/slaw burger. Her homemade chocolate pies were also a featured item.
During her last seventeen years, Rubye was confined to a wheelchair. Despite her numerous limitations and health issues she never complained, always carrying herself with dignity. Nothing kept her from attending the weddings of her beloved grandchildren, impeccably dressed, and with her hair perfectly styled. When the great grandchildren began to arrive, she made trips to christenings, as well, always smiling and happy to be a part of the event.
Rubye was wise enough to master modern technology to stay connected. Whether she was skyping or Facetiming with her sister in Germany, emailing her children or grandchildren, or ordering stylish clothes, she was quite proficient. However, she continued to send beautiful cards to loved ones, just one more example of her sincere thoughtfulness.
Rubye was predeceased by her husband, Joe Sherman; parents Nazira and Sam Rossie; brother Dr. Emmett Rossie; and sisters Louise Rossie Ferriss, Helen Rossie Cissell, Margie Rossie Samaha, Evelyn Rossie, and Nazira Rossie Chudzinski.
Left to celebrate the life and lessons of Rubye Rossie Sherman are one son, Joseph Anthony Sherman (Mary Pryor) of Jackson, MS; daughters, Jacqueline Sherman Antonio (JJ) of Birmingham, AL, and Patricia Ann Sherman of Greenville, MS; one sister, Billie Rossie Tonos of Ridgeland, MS; grandchildren Joseph Anthony Sherman, Jr. (Alli) of Jackson, Jennifer Antonio Fite (Jamie) of Birmingham, Jake Joseph Antonio IV (Caroline) of Atlanta, GA and Jonathan Sherman Antonio(Lindsey) of Charlotte, NC; and great-grandchildren, Joseph Samuel Sherman and Alexander Porter Sherman of Jackson, MS, Luke Mehler Antonio, Emily Marie Antonio and Sally Elizabeth Antonio of Atlanta, GA, James Ward Fite III of Birmingham, AL and Olivia Erin Antonio of Charlotte, NC.
Pallbearers will be Michael Tonos, Jimmy Lang, Sam Tonos, Jamie Fite, Charles Sherman, George Sherman, Dr. Joe Portera, Paul Rossie, Peter Sherman, Sam Samaha, John David Chudzinski and Mike Chudzinski.
The family would like to offer special thanks for the compassion, friendship, and assistance of Vanessa Young, Dorothy Davis, Saffron Porter, Gwen Harris, and Kizzy Toy as well as to Grace Hospice and its staff: Julie Stone Peyton, Ashton Campbell, and Meredith Weed.
The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, February 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Memorials may be made to St. Vincent DePaul, in care of St. Joseph Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1220, Greenville, MS 38702.