Ruby Jean Lankford Duffey
Wilsonville

Ruby Jean Lankford Duffey, age 85, of Wilsonville, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, while surrounded by the comfort of her loved ones at Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster.

Jeanie, as she was commonly known, was born on Sept. 9, 1929 to John and Lorene Lankford. She graduated the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing in 1951 and pursued her Bachelor’s of Nursing at Samford University.Throughout her career, she nursed at Tripler Army Hospital, East Alabama Medical Center, Shelby County Public Health Department, Brookwood Medical Center, Montclair Hospital, and Glenn Ireland Developmental Center.

During her time in nursing school she cared for a patient named Doris Duffey who suggested she write her young son Gene Duffey. This sparked a relationship that saw Gene and Jeanie Duffey married on January 5, 1951. They were married for 64 years.

She is survived and remembered by her husband, Gene Duffey, Sr., of Wilsonville, and their three children and their spouses, Terri Duffey Hooper of Huntsville, Dianne (Roger) Whitson of Columbiana, and Commander Grady Gene (Kandi) Duffey of Callaway, Maryland. She is also survived and remembered by her five grandsons, Dr. Micah Whitson (Dr. Christina Nadar), Casey Hooper, Caleb Whitson, Spencer Duffey, and Cameron Duffey. She has one great grandson, Lucas Whitson, the son of Micah and his wife Christina.

Services were conducted at Wilsonville Baptist Church with viewing Thursday, Aug. 27 from 6-8 p.m. and funeral service Friday, Aug. 28 at 11 a.m. followed by burial at Wilsonville Cemetery.

The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts during this difficult time. They would also like to specially thank the nurses of Shelby Baptist Medical Center’s MICU for their excellent care of Jeanie Duffey and the compassion showed to her family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wilsonville Baptist Church Building Fund.

Bolton Funeral home is directing.

Please sign online condolences at Boltonfuneralhome.com.