Ruby Viola Menzies

Ruby Viola Menzies passed away of natural causes on April 13,2023 at Life Care Center her assisted living facility in Altamonte Springs, FL. She was 85 years old. Born in Kingston, Jamaica on May 27, 1937, Ruby was the second of Henry Chung and Agatha Barton’s nine children.

Living conditions in Jamaica during the thirties and forties were we extremely difficult and Ruby went to work at an early age to help provide for the family. She was a very bright girl and at the tender age of 15 she earned a certificate of distinction in Bookkeeping, even while she was working. She went on to open a grocery store in her early twenties, and gave birth to a daughter, Mavournee Schooner-Wehmer. In 1960 Ruby migrated to England under the auspices of the Windrush program. She married Karl Menzies in London where her two sons, Hue and Winston, were born.

She returned to Jamaica in 1968 with her boys, working as an accountant to provide for her children’s education and well-being. Political turmoil in Jamaica forced her to migrate again, this time to America. By this time Mavournee was attending College in upstate New York, Winston was living in England and Hue joined her in America. Her time in America was filled with many health challenges but she fought through them, never giving up. Eventually she moved into assisted facilities in Orlando where she remained until her death.

Ruby loved young people and loved being around them. She had a kind soul and was always willing to share everything she had with the less fortunate. She will be remembered as a generous and honest person, a hard worker, and a fighter to the end.

Ruby is survived by her three children (Mavournee, Hue and Winston) along with four grandchildren (Joseph, Jason, Lawrence and Ralph) and three great grandchildren(Chloe, Broklyn and Emory). She is also survived by six siblings (Calvin Chung, Barbara Chin, Gladstone Chung, Thelma Assee, Dr. Olive Chung-James and Ann Marie Wilkins).

Donations in memory of Ruby can be made to:

Life Care Center of Altamonte Springs

989 Orienta Ave.

Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ruby-menzies/donate