RUBY FOSHA ARCHIELD

They met at a church picnic. Both had recently moved to Houston, Texas. Ruben Louis Archield grew up in Four Corners, Louisiana. But he left the Pelican State for the Lone Star State as a spiritual fugitive, running from the call of GOD on his life, to preach the gospel.

He came to this realization after painting the town with his cousin into the wee-wee hours of Sunday morning. That same cousin woke him up to go to church for 9:45 AM Sunday School. Ruben’s response was not “what the heaven”. The pastor taught the youth class that morning from Matthew 4. The LORD used verse 17 to touch this young man who did not listen to his godly parents: “repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at  hand”. He did not know why he needed to repent, but he pictured the kingdom as a company of godly people that were passing him by, and that he should be with them.

After much anguishing that day, he asked the LORD JESUS into his heart at evening church that night. But he knew that he had not fully commit- ted because GOD’S call to preach was upon him. So, he ran away from home to Houston, and joined the Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church congregation.

Ruby Earl Fosha grew up in Wallis, Texas. In the hope that this young lady  would have more opportunity, her mother sent her to Houston, Texas to live with her sister Raye and her husband, The Reverend W. H. Banks, pas- tor at Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

She was a church girl who had asked the LORD JESUS into her heart at a very young age. Ruby was part of all the youth programs, including the Girls’ Auxiliary and the Youth Choir.

So, Ruby and Ruben meet at this church picnic. He was anxious to talk to her and he asked her what she thought of the world situation.

For Ruben, it was love at first sight. For Ruby, he was handsome and interesting. But after the picnic ended, she did not think about him.

Ruben subconsciously began to accept the calling of GOD on his life, because he asked the LORD to give him a wife( wives are an essential part of ministry). The next time he opened his bible he saw Ruby’s image. But there was a problem. Ruby had a boyfriend. Convinced that the LORD gave Ruby to him, he went to talk with her that day. Ruben found her walking hand-in-hand with her boyfriend.

He said hello to them, took Ruby’s hand out of her boyfriend’s hand and placed her hand in his hand, and they walked and talked together for the next 68 years. This was true faith in GOD.

Ruben acknowledged his calling, asked Ruby to marry him and they were joined in holy matrimony on April 24, 1950. Shortly after, he was called to the pastorate at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Spanish Camp, Texas, some 65 miles from Houston and near Wallis, Texas, where Ruby was born.

Within a few months Ruben was drafted into the Army to fight in the Korean War. Up- on his separation from mili tary service, he was called to the pastorate at the Hill Zion Baptist Church, in Houston, where they labored for 10 ½ years.

In 1963 he was called to the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, in San Antonio, where they faithfully served for 53 years. Sister Ruby was always by his side. You never saw one without the other.

She founded the Fellowship Choir and was their musician. Also, she founded the “More Meaningful Prayer Life Fourth Saturday Prayer Band”. She was part of Friendship’s music department.  Also, Sister Ruby was her husband’s personal musician. She was the epitome of Proverbs 18:22,  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord. And the Reverend always sought the favour of the LORD.

She was part of the wives group with the San Antonio Baptist Minister’s Union, Guadalupe District Association, Ministers Under Ministerial Development (MUMD) Wives Auxiliary, and Ministers and Deacons Wives at Friendship.

They raised three boys: Ruben Jr., Paul Joseph, and John Milton.

She was at every school play. And every con- cert. If her boys were involved, she was there.

It was not safe to sit next to her at an athletic event because she cheered too loudly and hit whoever was sitting next in her excitement for her boys to remain unharmed and to do well.

She helped with homework as well as bible study. She wrote beautiful poetry.

Wherever her pastor/husband was speaking, she was there to encourage him, while witnessing to the WORD of GOD. They loved their grandchildren and great grandchildren, too; as a matter of fact, they loved all children. They were parent and grandparent to every child.

They encouraged ministers and their wives to keep the faith, and to not be weary in well- doing. She and the Reverend lived a lifetime of love every day.

She earned an Associates Degree at Saint Philip’s College, where she worked in the Registar’s Office for some 20 years.

Great-granddaughter Stormy Archield, Pastor Archield, and Paul preceded her in death.

Rest with the LORD Sister Ruby Earl Fosha-Archield. Those of us who mourn include; Ruben Jr and his wife, Chris; daughters-in-law Brenda and Sylvia; and John and his wife, Nadene. Grandchildren: Africa Archield and her husband, Gene; Segrid Archield and Joe Campbell; Roshawnda Anderson, Donerick Rainey, Little Paul, Allana Schulmann; Raynette Robinson, Paul Schofield and his wife, Sherry; Mark Schofield and his wife, DeeAnn; Heidi Schofield; . Great-grandchildren: Hunter Archield-Cupit, Winter Archield-Hall, Amira Campbell, Jayce Campbell, Jalen Williams, and Paris Williams. Sisters-in-law: Rose Garrett and Dorothy Archield. A host of nieces and nephews.