MAYWOOD, Ill. — Ruby Howard Reese died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. She was 78.

Mrs. Reese was born in Lorman to Dewitt and Beulah Murphy Howard. See was a former member of Beechland M.B. Church in Port Gibson and, after moving to Illinois, served on the usher board at Community Baptist Church before joining Rock of Ages Baptist Church in Maywood.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter; her husband, Earston Reese; and eight siblings, Roosevelt Howard, Elijah Howard, James Howard, Alfonzo Howard, Hezekiah Howard, Laura Howard Gaines, Beulah Howard Gadison and Daisy Howard Finley.

She is survived by two sisters, Ellen Williams of Maywood and Dorothy Curtain of Bellwood, Ill.; three brothers, Everett Howard and Lee Andrew Howard, both of Port Gibson, and Dewitt Howard of Oak Park, Ill.; four stepchildren, Earston Reese Jr., Jeanette Reese Macon, Ronald Reese and Bruce Reese; and nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Rock of Ages Baptist Church in Maywood with the Rev. Marvin E. Wiley officiating. Burial will be at noon Saturday at Waterloo Cemetery in Lorman, followed by a repast at C.J. Restaurant of Lorman. Visitation will be from 9 until 11 a.m. Saturday at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson.