Ida Pearl (DeRamus) Myree

Ida Pearl Myree

May 17, 1928-April 23, 2020

Obituary

Ida Pearl (DeRamus) Myree was born on May 17, 1928 in Prattville, Alabama to the late Jack and Lizzie (Minor) DeRamus. She passed peacefully at her residence on April 23, 2020.  Ida was preceded in her death by her loving husband, Rufus Nathaniel Myree (February 24, 1997).

Ida accepted Christ at an early age and joined Mt. Sinai Baptist Church. After graduating from high school, Ida moved to Detroit, Michigan and completed advanced secondary education and obtained a position as administrator. After relocating in Detroit, Ida joined East Lake Baptist Church and served in many capacities, including Lead Teacher of the Adult Sunday School. While in Michigan, Ida met her loving husband, the late Rufus Nathaniel Myree, who preceded her in death (February 1997).

After the birth of their two children, Ida became a devoted mother and homemaker and supported Rufus in his farming endeavors after his retirement and relocation to Alabama in 1972. An active member of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, in 1998, Ida was honored for serving as the Adult Class Sunday School Teacher for more than 25 years. In addition to her domestic responsibilities, Ida was extremely active in her local community and the wider county area, and she was a Board Member of the Central Alabama Elections Committee, where she served in many capacities until very late in life.

Ida valued education and imparted strict but important discipline in her daughters and many other young people in her community by offering support and stressing the importance of hard work. As she often said, “Many things can be taken away from you, but NOT your education.” She often told many stories of having to walk miles to school and using second-hand books as a way of encouraging perseverance throughout life’s challenges. Throughout the years, we have heard many stories from people who benefited from Ida’s encouragement, but she never sought out recognition for her efforts, believing another statement she often repeated, “I let my works speak for me.” Ida was also a friend to many, but she always spoke her mind. As we have heard many times, “Everyone always knew where you stood with her; it was black or white.” She did and said the right things according to her values and Christian beliefs.

Ida is survived by her loving daughters, her oldest, Joy Myree, who gave Ida her first granddaughter, Makaela; She is also survived by her youngest daughter, Cynthia Jackson (Tracy), whose three grandsons, Brandyn (Jennifer), Corey, and Christian, were blessed to have her as a loving grandmother.  Moreover, she loved doting on her two great-granddaughters, Aliyah and Amber. In addition to her immediate family, Ida is survived by one sister, Ardell (Charlie) Butler, one brother, Jessie (Pearl) DeRamus, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Ida was preceded in her death by her parents, Jack and Lizzie DeRamus; her devoted husband, Rufus Nathaniel Myree; six sisters, Mary Frith, Ethel Lou Simmons, Sallie Moore, Leona Moton, Lydia Ruth Varnardo, and Virginia Snyder; five brothers, Louis DeRamus, Jack DeRumus, George DeRamus, and Jeffery DeRamus,; she was also preceded by several aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces.

Visitation will be Friday, May 1st at Davis Funeral Home in Prattville (2:00 – 6:00 p.m. A graveside internment service will be held Saturday, May 2nd (2:00 p.m.) where she will be laid to rest next to Rufus at Holy Ark cemetery. Pastor Conchita Minor will officiate.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ida Pearl (DeRamus) Myree, please visit our floral store.