(Due to Covid-19 concerns, all who attend the funeral are REQUIRED to wear a face mask and practice social distancing)

Ruby (Reuben) Mayfield entered this world on June 24, 1954 in Chester, South Carolina and transitioned on April 1, 2021 after a long battle with health issues. He was the third child of Major and Helen Hall (deceased) Mayfield.  The family relocated to Asheville when Reuben was young. He became an active member of Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church starting at a young age. Reuben attended Asheville City Schools and graduated from Asheville High in 1972.

After attending Winston Salem State University, Reuben enlisted in the US Army where he was assigned to the 18th Army Band in Fort Devens, Massachusetts as a saxophone player.  It was here that he met and married Jeannette Camp in 1977. That union produced their only child, Reuben “Israel” Mayfield. Reuben left the army in 1981 and began working for WLOS TV 13 in their Greenville, South Carolina bureau as a cameraman, part time anchor, and editor.

During the time in Greenville, he began the transition to Ruby. She returned to the Asheville area in 1983 and eventually accepted the position of producer at WLOS.

Music was a passion all of her life. From Asheville High to Winston-Salem State University to the Army Band (which gave her access to Berkley School of Music), Ruby was exposed to new ideas, genres, and music styles. Although the saxophone was her signature instrument, she also played keyboard as well as flute. Ruby Mayfield was well known throughout Asheville and all Western North Carolina, heading up family bands like M-Pride and the Friendship Train. You would almost always hear her playing at Tressa’s Downtown Asheville and making special appearances throughout the city.

She leaves behind to mourn her passing, her devoted son Israel (Russell) and close friend Jeannette Mayfield of Asheville.  Also, a loving father, Major Mayfield, and siblings; Aquila (Cynthia) Mayfield, Laura Frazier, Nathan (Jackie) Mayfield and Sharlen Mayfield all of Asheville, sister Karen (Phillip) Pierson of Dayton, Ohio and special cousin Bernard (Marva) Bryant of Charlotte, NC.  A special cousin Alfreda King of Georgia and a host of nieces and nephews, her furbaby Lucy, as well as the numerous Asheville musicians she played with over the years.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at First Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church located on 146 Pine Street Street Asheville, NC. Interment immediately following at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC. Viewing will be held on Tuesday April 5, 2021 at First Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church from 11am until 7pm. Services will be live streamed on Avery's Memorial Chapel's Facebook page.

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