Ruby Rema Rice Little, daughter of Marcellus “Sillus, Sill” and Isabel “Ibbie” Weaver Rice was born on July 23, 1907 at the home her parents had built around 1904 on Bull Run Creek just inside Knox County. Ruby’s ancestors had been on Lost Creek since 1798, and her parents had lived in Big Valley until the early 1900s. The Rice name remains familiar to many Union Countians.
There was no high school in Union County in Ruby’s day, and Ruby graduated from Central High School. Even though it was almost unheard of at the time for girls to go to college, Ruby went on to complete her undergraduate and master’s degrees from The University of Tennessee. She later completed the course work for her PhD at Cornell University. What is even more incredible and free-spirited, she didn’t feel she filled the mold of a school teacher or a home economist. She was interested in botany! After completing her studies at Knoxville Business College and working her way through UT with a job in the Botany Department, Ruby accepted employment with the U. S. Department of Agriculture where she met her future husband. She married Dr. Elbert Luther Little, Jr. on August 14, 1943 in Washington, D. C. Dr. Little was a noted Professor of Forestry (Dendrologist –tree identification specialist) and employee of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Little published many books on the subject of trees. Perhaps his best known works are Volumes I and II of Audubon Society’s Field Guide to North American Trees and Shrubs. One that I own is Forest Trees of the United States and Canada and How to Identify Them. Ruby was employed for 25 years with the U. S. Agricultural Research Service at Beltsville, Maryland.

Ruby was also an excellent historian and genealogist, who returned to her roots every year to attend the Fall Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia. According to the Nicholas Gibbs book, she was an authority on the Sarah Snodderly-George Rice family history. Ruby and Elbert’s children are: Twins–Dr. Gordon Rice Little and Melvin Weaver Little, and daughter, Alice Conner Little Stroud. For the last several years and after the death of her husband, Ruby made her home with her daughter in Oregon. Melvin Little is author of Henry Rice, the Pioneer Tennessee Gristmiller. Dr. Gordon Little is a retired college professor. Ruby became somewhat of a celebrity at the Homecoming, since those of us who are just a bit younger looked forward to seeing her and quizzing her about early Union County history.

Ruby’s great niece, Elaine Meyer, went out for her 100th birthday celebration that was held at the Arboretum in Eugene, Oregon. An arboretum is, of course, the perfect place for a botanist to celebrate. A part of the festivities was an Old Harp Singing with everyone joining in. Old pictures and memorabilia was brought for reminiscing. All three of her children being there made it extra special too. 5
Ruby and her daughter participated in an Old Harp “Shape-note” singing group, the D. A. R.; and did some watercolors up to the time she died..