Ruby Speece Buchanan, 89, of Lumberton, NC died on October 10th after a long illness. Ruby was born in Iredell County, NC on June 16, 1924, daughter of the late William Marshall and Treva McDaniels Speece. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Willard Buchanan; their two sons, Lawrence (Larry) Buchanan and Robert (Bob) Hart; seven brothers, Ralph, Herman, Lewis, Nathan, Fred, Claude, and Dwight Speece; four sisters, Hazel Wilson, Ruth Speece, Wanda Ireland, and Icie Souther; and a granddaughter, Valerie Cooke. Surviving are sons, Terry (Cathleen) Buchanan, David (Becky) Strickland, Clayton (Sharon) Oxendine; daughters, Winifred (Charles) Cooke, Gloria (Harold) Roberts, Candace Nobles; a sister, Virginia (Ginger) Speece; six grandchildren, Ryan and Elizabeth Cooke, Robbie and Cherlyn Roberts, Victoria Nobles, Kim Long, and Hazel Robertson; and five great-grandchildren, Liam Cooke, Leila Cooke, Hunter Roberts, Nicholas Thompson, Bailee Thompson, and Kaitlyn Smith. There were numerous others whom she considered family. As Assemblies of God missionaries under appointment to the American Indians, Mrs. Buchanan and her husband pioneered a church on the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho and started several churches in Robeson County, NC. Eagle Mills Assembly of God in Iredell County, the first church they built, is celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary this year. Mrs. Buchanan attended Central Bible Institute in Springfield, MO and earned her baccalaureate and master's degrees with highest honors at Pembroke State University. She taught gifted and talented children at Pembroke Elementary for many years, serving in many leadership roles, and she was named Teacher of the Year several times. Her colleagues affectionately compared her to Julie Andrews in "The Sound Of Music" because of her use of song and drama in her teaching. Ruby welcomed to her home young people who sought to improve themselves spiritually and educationally. Mrs. Buchanan was multi-talented. From writing poetry to singing and playing numerous musical instruments to sewing costumes and directing musicals to public speaking - she did it all and taught others how to do those things as well. And yet she found time to be a wonderful wife and mother. Her greatest passion, which was evident in everything she did, was to share the love of Christ. As an Assemblies of God licensed home missions worker herself, she and her husband worked tirelessly to spread the Gospel. We love you Mom! Rest in the presence of the Lord. We will join you later.