Ruby Lee Dedmon Black, 93, died Sunday, April 10, 2016 at her home on Tot Dellinger Road. She was born June 19, 1922 to the late Cornie Vashtie Wellmon Dedmon and Augustus Clee Dedmon. Upon her marriage to Charles Hugh Black, she helped him farm and worked in the local textile mills. In her early 30's she worked for David P. Dellinger, a local attorney and representative to the North Carolina House of Representatives. She opened her own business of insurance, real estate, and accounting in 1961. Mrs. Black opened her office with very little resources after a small loan of Two Hundred Dollars was denied. She was told that Cherryville did not need a female owning a business. She used a cigar box for making change while her business was growing. It grew until she opened the largest insurance agency in town along with a branch office in Lincolnton. She was a visionary in real estate foreseeing the changing business activity within Cherryville. She moved her growing business out of the downtown to its present location. A few years later she envisioned the business moving further east on Highway 150. She graduated from Cherryville High School in 1939. Later, she attended Howard's Business College in Shelby. Her knowledge in accounting led to certification as an Enrolled Agent to appear before the Internal Revenue Service. She was a well-respected Notary Public and Real Estate Instructor at the community colleges. Rather than retire at the age of 75, she operated three family care homes. She always taught her children, grandchildren, and other family members that the most important things in life are family and church, the second is education, and the third was one's chosen work. Mrs. Black was instrumental in her children's, Shirley Anne Black Starling and Augustus Melton (Buddy) Black, success in attaining university degrees in social work and mathematics. She went to college in her 60's and graduated with honors in 1988 from the University of the State of New York at Albany with a baccalaureate degree. An immensely generous and giving woman, she believed in helping others as she shared her love and gifts with those less fortunate. Her legacy to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, other family members, and friends is the love of God, love of family, and love of fellowman. She accepted Jesus Christ as her savior at an early age and was a life-long member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Her service to Christ and the church included President of the WMU, Sunday Schhool teacher, choir member, youth leader, and pianist. In her later years she was a member of the Open Door Sunday School class. She shared anything she had with those who were in need. She was a life-long Democrat who served as the Chair of the Precinct for many years; in her service to the election board she always treated Democrat or Republican equally when questions of politics came up. She served on the Gaston County - Lincoln County Library board for 9 years and as Chair for 4 years. She was a member of the Gaston County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee. She was a great basketball player at Cherryville High School which led to her selection to the Cherryville Sports Hall of Fame.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Charles Hugh Black; brothers, Augustus Clee Dedmon, Jr. and Leroy Pinkney Dedmon; sisters, Mozelle Dedmon McSwain and Betty Jane Dedmon McSwain Frye.
Survivors include her children, Shirley Anne Black Starling and husband, Donald Dean Starling, and Augustus Melton (Buddy) Black and wife, Anne Ware Black; grandchildren, Deanne Starling Moss and husband, Randy Moss, Donald Dean Starling and wife, Margaret, Augustus Melton (Mel) Black Jr. of Raleigh, and Charles Wesley Black of Durham; great grandchildren, Ethan Crocker, Eric Starling, Kaitlin Starling, Andrew Melton Black, and Marion Black; and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Highway 274 North, Cherryville NC with grandson, Charles Wesley Black, a student at Duke University Divinity School, and Reverend Ken Gibson officiating. The body will lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service and burial in the church cemetery will follow the service. The family will receive friends from 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at Carpenter's Funeral & Cremation Services, 1100 E. Main St, Cherryville, NC. The family will receive friends at other times at the home at 511 Tot Dellinger Road, Cherryville NC.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Cemetery Fund, 112 Mount Zion Church Road, Cherryville NC 28021.
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