Ruby Black Haynes

Ruby Black Haynes died on November 18, 2017 at CarePartners Hospice Solace Center in Asheville. Ruby was the daughter of Rev. James Holland Black and Lillie Honeycutt Black. She graduated from Burnsville High School and Blanton’s Business College and worked at Asheville’s Southern Bell, Mission Hospital and M.B. Haynes Electric Corporation as the Corporate Secretary and Acting Treasurer. In 1964, she married M.B. Haynes, Jr. In 1977, she and two friends opened RSVP Interiors, a business that included a consignment shop for antiques and interior design. RSVP designed The Grand Hall and Upstairs Hall of the Designer House benefiting The Asheville Art Museum Auxiliary. What was once a hobby for Ruby evolved into a successful business. This love led her to design work in Asheville, Charleston, Burnsville, Omaha, Charlotte, Lenoir, Boone, Burlington, Atlanta, Washington, Lexington and Brandon. Her last RSVP job was in 2017. Ruby was President of her chapter of Beta Sigma Phi and was a member for 60 years. She also served as chairman of the Snow Carnival Ball. The sorority service projects included Eliada Homes, one of Ruby’s favorite organizations that help children succeed. Ruby loved Asheville. Her home was on A Christmas Tour of Homes benefiting the Asheville Symphony Guild. She was a volunteer for both The Asheville Symphony Orchestra and The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, M.B. (Gump) Haynes, Jr.; and two brothers, Lloyd Black and Ralph Black. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Weiss, of Atlanta; her brother, Espie Black, of Charlotte; her sister, Maxine Pangle (husband Sam, deceased), of Charlotte; four nieces, Patsy Murphy (husband Joe), of Burnsville, Sabra Romeo (husband Tony, deceased), of Charlotte, Sandra Miller (husband Tony), of Burlington and Amelia Island, and Susan Laxton (husband Neal) of Augusta; and three additional generations of nieces and nephews. Ruby lived a vibrant life committed to family and friends. For 50 years, she hosted a family Christmas dinner at her home in Asheville. This joy for life and her love for family revealed her incredible caring spirit. Ruby was a generous lady who will live in the hearts and memories of everyone who knew her. The family will receive friends at Groce Funeral Home in West Asheville on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 1 pm; a celebration of Ruby’s life will follow at 2 pm. Burial will be at Green Hills Cemetery (for family members only). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Eliada Homes, 2 Compton Drive, Asheville, NC 28806.