COURTLAND—Surrounded by her loving family, Ruby McCrickard Barlow, 97, transitioned peacefully to a better place on September 14, 2015. She was the daughter of the late Henry Clay and Lera Hicks McCrickard of Penhook, Va. She settled in Norfolk, Virginia with the love of her life, David Barlow. She is predeceased by her husband, parents, and brothers, Leonard, Willard, and Chapman.

She is survived by two brothers, Aaron and J.B., one daughter Theresa B. Applewhite and husband, Jack, and three grandsons, Christiaan, David, and Brandon. She adored her five great-grandsons: Jayden, Grant, Brock, Weston and Jackson and enjoyed telling them stories of growing up on a tobacco farm during the depression. Ruby was also blessed with twelve beloved nieces and nephews. Grandmother left us with a deep faith in God, solid family values, a strong work ethic, and a loving commitment to her family. She was very independent and courageous in a wheelchair for the past eleven years.

She was educated in a one-room schoolhouse graduating as salutatorian from Glade Hill High School. After graduating from Southern Business School and Hicks Beauty Academy, Ruby had various jobs and retired with 36 faithful years as an Inventory Management Specialist with the U.S. Army and Navy. She enjoyed countless friendships created and nurtured through her many years especially with her government co-workers, Lynn Felton, Beverly Bolduc, Donna Shockley, and Eloise Craven. She was a member of Main Street Methodist Church in Suffolk and later Courtland United Methodist. She never wanted to miss a Sunday Service. A celebration of life will be held in her church (Courtland United Methodist) on Friday, September 18th at 2pm, officiated by Pastor Andrew Book. The burial will follow at Holly Lawn Cemetery in Suffolk, Va. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Please consider donations to Courtland United Methodist Church, Courtland Rescue Squad, or Southampton Academy. The family would like to thank Sentara Cardiology Specialists, Southampton Family Practice, Southampton Memorial Hospital, Sentara Norfolk General Trauma Unit, and Wright Funeral Home for their professional and loving care. www.wrightfuneralhome.org