On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Ruby Dean (Bryant) Hancock, 85, of Batesville, died.Freeman and Nellie (Hall) Bryant welcomed her into the world on June 25, 1940.
Ruby was a godly example of a Christian woman who loved the Lord with all of her heart. She spent almost 40 years in ministry with her husband, Patrick Hancock. They were pastors of four congregations in Arkansas together. She worked long hours in church kitchens preparing baked goods, peanut brittle, and dinners for church events and fund-raising.
She was well-known for baking, particularly cakes and pies that she created herself. For birthdays or other special events, friends, relatives, and churchgoers were frequently presented with their favorite pastries.
She read a great deal of Christian fiction and the Bible. She also liked playing board games, working on jigsaw puzzles, and solving puzzle books. She organized weekly prayer gatherings and Thursday Game Days with close pals in her final years.
Six grandchildren, including April Casey (Harold), James Tims (Brandi), Elizabeth Smith (Will), Bryan Hobbs (Nancy), Nathanael Hancock (Tiffany), and Drew Hancock (Savannah), as well as 25 great-grandchildren, are among the survivors, along with one daughter, Angela Castleberry of Batesville, and one daughter-in-law, Lesa Hancock of Batesville.
Her parents, husband, Rev. Patrick Homer Hancock, one son, Rev. Chris Hancock, three brothers, Bobby, Morris, and William Bill Bryant, and two sisters, Katherine Kay Spigner and Ireta Richardson, all passed away before her.
Doug Brooks, Will Smith, Mike Loy, Gary Britten, Jr., John Hodge, and Drew Hancock are the pallbearers. Jim Leonard, Bob Davis, and David Simmons are honorary pallbearers.
On Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 10:00 am, there will be a visitation at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home. Funeral services will be place at 11:00 am, officiated by Rev. Nathanael Hancock, Rev. M.D. Parmley, and Rev. Jonathan Abbott.
At 4:00 pm, the burial will take place at Shadowlawn Cemetery in Malvern, Arkansas, with assistance from Regency Funeral Home.Memorials may be sent to First Church UPCI, 240 White Dr., Batesville, AR, 72501, in lieu of flowers.
